Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Plague of deadly Jellyfish put sting into holiday weekend at
Florida beaches
By Vivian Kuo, CNN
May 30, 2011 4:56 p.m. EDT
A swarm of purplish, stinging jellyfish is washed up on Cocoa
Beach, Florida, on Saturday.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Beaches from Cocoa Beach to Cape Canaveral are affected,
rescue officials say
* More than 800 people have been stung, they say
* None of the stings is believed to be serious
(CNN) -- Hundreds of people trying to enjoy the Memorial Day
weekend on Atlantic beaches in central Florida encountered an
unwelcome surprise: swarms of purplish, stinging jellyfish.
More than 800 people at beaches from Cocoa Beach to Cape Canaveral
have been stung, Brevard County Ocean Rescue officials said.
Assistant Chief Eisen Witcher said the reports began coming in
Friday, but as the Memorial Day weekend got into full swing, the
numbers increased dramatically.
"Saturday, we got about 200 reports. Sunday, we got another 250,"
he said.
All weekend long, countless numbers of jellyfish washed up on
shores, standing out against the sand due to their distinctive
hue.
"They're very visible because of their color," Witcher said. "They
come in large amounts, very large groups."
Witcher said Brevard County shores are more familiar with
Portuguese man o' war and cannonball jellyfish, not this current
species, which he said he believes are called mauve stingers.
"This time of year, this can happen when the conditions are
perfect for jellyfish to wash up. You have an onshore breeze
combined with an east swell."
The stings cause itching, burning and rashes and can sometimes
spur an allergic reaction.
Although none of the stings was believed to be serious, officials
said two people who were stung were taken to hospitals after
suffering from respiratory distress. It was unclear whether the
distress was directly caused by the sting or came from a
pre-existing medical condition.
"Most of the stings are being reported on the ankles, but others
have been getting it on the chest, arms, you name it," Witcher
said.
He said victims were being treated by a vinegar solution stocked
at the various lifeguard stations.
"We have that solution there at all times, but we knew that we
were going to have a lot of people out here this weekend," Witcher
said. "These jellyfish are not a major threat, but they are
annoying."