Irukandji jellyfish
[3] They fire their stingers into their victim, causing a condition known in humans as Irukandji syndrome, which can be fatal and difficult to immediately recognise due to the delayed effects of the venom.
[17][18] There has been an increased incidence of Irukandji stings reported around Great Palm Island, off the coast of north Queensland near Townsville.
They are blamed for killing 5 tourists during a 3-month period in Australia; all of the five victims displayed two typical features of Irukandji syndrome: delayed onset (5–40 min to illness and 2–12 h to death) and highly visible distress (vomiting, difficulty breathing, extreme pain, etc.).
[21] Researchers conjecture that the venom possesses such potency to enable it to quickly stun its prey, which consists of small and fast fish.
Judging from statistics, it is believed that the Irukandji syndrome may be produced by several species of jellyfish, but only Carukia barnesi and Malo kingi have so far been proven to cause the condition.
[23] Irukandji jellyfish's stings are so severe they can cause fatal brain hemorrhages and on average send 50–100 people to the hospital annually.
[25] Between 1 January and early December 2020, 23 stings, seven of which required admission to hospital for Irukandji syndrome, were sustained in the waters around Palm Island, off northern Queensland.
[19] Irukandji syndrome is produced by a small amount of venom and induces excruciating muscle cramps in the arms and legs, severe pain in the back and kidneys, a burning sensation of the skin and face, headaches, nausea, restlessness, sweating, vomiting, and an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Contrary to popular belief, researchers from James Cook University and Cairns hospital in far north Queensland have found that vinegar promotes the discharge of jellyfish venom.
"You can increase the venom load in your victim by 50 per cent," says Associate Professor Jamie Seymour from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at the university.
