“It has been found lurking in the waters of several popular beaches like in Pulau Langkawi, Tanjung Bungah, Pantai Kerachut and in east Malaysia. It can kill children within a few minutes, but its effect on adults is not known yet.” wrote Tan Sin Chow in The Star today.

In Australia, it is responsible for at least one death every year. So what is this lethal thing??

It has no head, no heart and no skeleton.
Any takers?

Box Jelly Fish
Chironex Fleckeri

THE box jellyfish is pale blue and transparent and has the shape of a bell or cube. It has four distinct sides, thus its name. Considered the most venomous marine creature, it has killed more people than stonefish, sharks and crocodiles.

Measuring up to 20 cm along each side of the cube or bell, the Box Jellyfish has up to as many as 15 tentacles on eachBox Jellyfish corner which can be 3 metres in length with up to 5,000 nematocysts (stinging cells). The Box Jellyfish shoots itself along up to speeds of 4 knots in a jet-like motion.

It is found in shallow waters off the shores in northern Australia, the Indo-Pacific region, Malaysia and the Philippines.

These forms, with a toxin with an LD 50 of 40 micrograms/kg are dangerously venomous. Even a moderate sting can cause death within a few minutes and has a reported mortality of 20% with deaths occuring secondary to respiratory paralysis, neuromuscular paralysis drowning, and cardiovascular collapse. An antivenin, available from Commonwealth Serum Laboratory of Melbourne, Australia, specific for Chironex fleckeri is indicated for all serious envenomations. (The intravenous dose is one ampule over five minutes or the intramuscular dose is three ampules.)

Do not go into areas where they are sighted, or if dead ones are seen on the beach. Their primary injury mechanism is their tentacles’ stinging cells (nematocysts).

Symptoms include stinging, burning sensation, vivid redness in the affected areas, swelling of lymph nodes. There may be severe reaction: difficulty with breathing and even cardiac arrest. Visible manifestations include long red welt lines.

First Aid

Douse or spray liberally with vinegar. Urine does not work on the box jellyfish.
Pluck off any visible tentacles carefully – try not to use your fingers, use your fins, a towel, etc. instead to brush them away.
For severe pain, try applying a hot pack. If heat makes the sting feel worse, try applying a cold pack or ice to the sting.
Get medical help for severe reactions.IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION MAY BE REQUIRED as their stinging may bring about anaphylactic shock.