Two Australian fishers had to be airlifted to the hospital after getting stung by one of the world's most venomous jellyfish, the Irukandji jellyfish, while they were on a boat in the ocean.
Stung by One of the Most Venomous Jellyfish in the World
The two men were on a boat roughly 19 kilometers off Dundee Beach's coast in the Northern Territory of Australia. It was then that an Irukandji jellyfish stung them last October 10. It remains unclear which species among the 16 known species of Irukandji jellyfish stung the duo.
Both of them had to be airlifted from the boat to the hospital. They were then discharged after 48 hours and are expected to fully recover.
Irukandji Jellyfish
There are up to 16 species of Irukandji jellyfish that are known. These are all endemic to northern Australia's deep seas.
These tiny box jellyfish can release venom that triggers what is known as the Irukandji syndrome, which could lead to reactions that are extremely painful and could be even fatal. Most Irukandji syndrome cases are caused by the Carukia barnesi species, which is only two centimeters long despite being one of the world's most venomous marine creatures.
The C. barnesi species releases toxins via special stinging cells called nematocysts and line their tentacles and barbs filled with venom to their prey or as a form of predator defense. Because these creatures are tiny, several people are not aware of them until they get stung by them.
Irukandji syndrome symptoms include muscle pains, headache, backache, nausea, anxiety, vomiting, breathing issues, hypertension, and even cardiac arrest. These symptoms can surface five minutes post-sting. Though most people fully recover from the condition, there are times when pain could go on for up to a year.
Irukandji venom has a similar way of functioning as tetrodotoxin, which is one of the most potent venoms across the world that some animals, including blue-ringed octopuses and pufferfish, release. Both types of toxins inhibit the nerves from sending proper signals to muscles. They do so by clocking the channels for sodium ions.
Similar to the case with tetrodotoxin, there is still no known antivenom for Irukandji. Treatments are also just supportive. Specialists advise that the sting area be immediately doused with vinegar because the material's acidic properties can stop barbs from expelling venom.
There are roughly 50 to 100 Irukandji syndrome cases in Australia each year. Most of these cases take place during summer, when the jellyfish are pushed by high winds and warmer waters towards the shore. However, cases have still been reported year-round.
Australia also houses several of the most venomous marine creatures in the world, such as other kinds of box jellyfish, blue-ringed octopuses, and stonefish. All of these creatures have caused several deaths.
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