This Almost Invisible Creature is One of The Most Deadly

The Irukandji jellyfish is an almost invisible, dangerous, mysterious, silent killer that inhabits the waters off northern Australia. Carukua barnesi, or the Irukandji jellyfish, is found in the waters in northern Australia in a wide sweeping arc between Gladstone, Queensalnd and Western Australia.
It is believed that the Irukandji is the world’s most venomous creature since it has venom hundred times more potent than a cobra and thousand times more potent than a tarantula.

Irukandji-Jellyfish

“Fool’s Gold” Shooting Had Been Halted Due To Presence Of Deadly Irukandji

It was believed that the deadly Irukandji jellyfish did not stray further than Gladstone. However, in March 2007, the deadly jellyfish were detected in the waters of Hervey Bay during the filming of Andy Tennant’s Fool’s Gold, and the filming of the film had to be stopped. The jellyfish thrive during jellyfish season, approximately between the end of October and early May, in north Queensland.

Deadly Irukandji Have Killed Numerous In Queensland

It was in early January 2002 when this dangerous and deadly jellyfish species stung Richard Jordon, a fifty-eight year old British tourist who was swimming off the coast of Queensland, near Hamilton Island. A couple of days later Jordon passed away. Robert Gonzalez, a thirty-four year old French tourist, had also been similarly stung, but he successfully recovered since he was rushed to hospital in a timely manner. Robert King, a forty-four year old American tourist, also passed away after the Irukandji jellyfish stung him in Queensland off Port Douglas. The deadliness of Irukandji jellyfish comes in part, from the fact that they are related to box jellyfish, which are equally deadly but more common. Between 1883 and late 2005, at least seventy people have died from box jellyfish stings.

Symptoms Of The Sting Of The Deadly Irukandji

The sting of a box jellyfish tends to be painful and results in the formation of welts soon after. People usually apply first aid and begin treatment when these symptoms occur, as a result of which the imminence of death is reduced and has helped in lowering the death toll.
On the other hand, when stung by the Irukandji jellyfish, people feel nothing more than a sensation similar to that of a painful irritant and the rash that occurs is similar to that of prickly heat. Usually, death becomes imminent and the victim’s life cannot be saved by the time more serious symptoms appear.

Deadly Even Though Quite Small

irukandji-jellyfish-size
The deadly, killer Irukandji jellyfish happen to be so tiny that they can barely be noticed in the water. Detecting the jellyfish is impossible they tend to be just 2.5 centimeters in length, with bell and tentacles.  In comparison to the box jellyfish, the Irukandji jellyfish are not just found in coastal waters. This means that people swimming far from the shore of Queensland may not exactly be safe from the Irukandji if it is jellyfish season and they are within the northern Australian arc.

Things To Do When Stung

Anyone who has been swimming in the waters within the Australian jellyfish infestation arc, especially in the jellyfish season, any unexpected pain that is experienced should be treated with suspicion, regardless of how minor, especially if rashes also appear. First aid should be applied immediately if a sting from a jellyfish is suspected, no matter what the species. Visiting a hospital right away is also stressed.

Posted by Glimpse Team

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