Worldwide deaths and severe envenomation from jellyfish stings

Abstract

From our database of fatal and serious human envenomations, we report several cases, look at the distribution of these events, and discuss treatment.

Long-Term Fluctuations in Circalunar Beach Aggregations of the Box Jellyfish Alatina moseri in Hawaii, with Links to Environmental Variability

“…However, our observations of A. moseri actively swimming towards the beach during the ebbing tide, against as well as across surface currents and tidal flow, contrasts with passive stranding events observed for instance, in scyphozoan medusae [58], [59]. Lunar cycles have previously been shown to affect swimming behavior of jellyfish [33] and reproductive cycles of marine Cnidaria [87]. We suggest that the moon cycle may play a role in synchrony of gonad development and timing of Alatina moseri arrival at the shore, while environmental variables, such as regional food availability may play a role in fluctuations in Waikiki beach counts.…”

“…In addition, long-term studies of jellyfish abundance and climate exist for only a few species of scyphozoans, hydrozoans, and ctenophores [1], and no studies exist for cubozoan species. This is somewhat surprising as box jellyfish are among the most venomous animals in the world [33]. Quite often, their habitat overlaps with areas of human recreation resulting in dangerous encounters due to painful, even lethal stings [34], [35], causing beach closures at various global localities [33].…”

Cubozoan Sting-Site Seawater Rinse, Scraping, and Ice Can Increase Venom Load: Upending Current First Aid Recommendations

“…Envenomations can range in severity from mild sting-site pain to loss of life within minutes [4,5,6,7]. Sting severity varies based on several factors, the most important of which are the species involved and the dose of venom delivered [8,9].…”

Growth, Development and Temporal Variation in the Onset of Six Chironex fleckeri Medusae Seasons: A Contribution to Understanding Jellyfish Ecology

“…The generalisation that C. fleckeri's life cycle is seasonal is based on numerous reports of medusae and stings from the warmer months of the year [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18] contrasted with a lack of such reports from the winter months. Although the life history of cubozoans is complex [19] in which an asexually reproducing polyp phase alternates with a sexually reproducing medusae phase [15], [16], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], the timing of the shift from the polyp to medusae phase appears to vary both spatially and temporally [10], [12], [15], [16], [18].…”

“…Although the life history of cubozoans is complex [19] in which an asexually reproducing polyp phase alternates with a sexually reproducing medusae phase [15], [16], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], the timing of the shift from the polyp to medusae phase appears to vary both spatially and temporally [10], [12], [15], [16], [18]. For instance, while C. fleckeri medusae typically appear along the far north Queensland coastline in December, they have been reported as early as October in some seasons [12], [15], [18]. There is also a suggestion that the season commences earliest on the west coast, shortly after the first rains of the wet season, with the onset of the stinger season delayed if the wet season is late [10], [25].…”