About 1600 people have already suffered from the poison of jellyfish that flooded a ten-mile stretch of coastline on the coast of Florida (USA)
Moreover, this type of jellyfish is not a common species for this area. There are now warning flags and signs on the beaches. Jellyfish sting complaints have been coming in from Cocoa Beach since Wednesday last week, and there were around 1,600 by Tuesday.
Monty Graham, a marine life scientist in Alabama, says the jellyfish cycle coincides with El Niño-influenced temperature swings and that they can reproduce very strongly, but not every year. Graham said that the last time such an outbreak in the United States was noted ten years ago.
“These jellyfish are common inhabitants of the Mediterranean. The fact that they appeared here is apparently the influence of the peculiarities of the current currents, in particular the Gulf Stream passing by Florida."
These purple jellyfish are much less familiar to people than the famous Portuguese boat or corner jellyfish, but they can be much more poisonous, and the power of their stinging cells does not depend on whether the jellyfish is large or small. After the sting, severe itching, burning, rash, and sometimes an allergic reaction appear on the skin. Some people have had breathing problems.
And a trace on the skin from such a jellyfish can then remain for life.
Now on the beaches of Florida, few people dare to go swimming. The bravest are now reaping the fruits of their courage in hospitals.