Jellyfish alert | Residents, visitors urged to be cautious
A jellyfish washed ashore.
Residents and visitors in the British Virgin Islands are being urged to exercise caution when swimming at sea/the beach.
Since recently, marine authorities reportedly responded to several incidences of jellyfish stings, which resulted in a few victims having to seek medical attention.
There have been reported incidences at The Bight off Norman Island, The Baths on Virgin Gorda, and at Cane Garden Bay on Tortola.
At noon yesterday, the National Parks Trust issued a marine advisory warning unsuspecting sea bathers of the potential danger.
Purple flags — which indicates a hazard from marine life — were also erected at specific locations known for swimming, including The Baths on Virgin Gorda.
The advisory also said there are no lifeguards on duty.
About the Jellyfish
According to National Geographic, despite being called a ‘fish’, jellyfish are invertebrates — animals with no backbones.
These invertebrates have tiny stinging cells in their tentacles to stun or paralyze their prey before they eat them.
However, it is said jellyfish don’t ‘purposefully attack humans’ and most stings occur when people accidentally come into contact with them.
Their stings can be deadly, but the severity of their stings vary greatly.
The severity of one’s reaction to a sting depends on several factors such as the type and size of the jellyfish, age, size, health, the percentage of skin affected and the length of time taken to get medical help.
Some common symptoms of a sting include burning, prickling, or stinging pain. It is also known to itch and cause swelling.
In the severe cases, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle pain or spasms, weakness, drowsiness, fainting and confusion, and difficulty breathing are possible.
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Come on BVI News, don’t be so lazy – what KIND of jellyfish are these? There are hundreds of different species. Some of them can kill a man, some don’t sting at all.
A generic definition of ‘jellyfish’ is no use to your readers if you don’t tell us the actual threat from this type, its effects and their treatment. Thank you.
I agree. BVI News recently interviewed Dr. Cassander Titley-O’Neal, the marine biologist for the JSSR Holding Limited development west of Nanny Cay. I suggest you contact her again in regard to obtaining the correct identity of the ‘jelly fish’ species currently affecting BVI waters.
These are Box Jellyfish swimming in our waters, they are the most dangerous species in the world that can kill a person if stung. Be carefull while swimming at the beaches.
Not true.
The box jellyfish found occasionally in the BVI do give a nastly sting.
But this is a totally different species from the lethal box jellyfish found in Australia, which do indeed kill people.
If that picture represents those jelly fish presently found in the waters surrounding the BVI’s, it appears as a Catostylus tagi otherwise known as the Jelly Blubber. The sting of this genus is actually mild compared to others.
ANOTHER NDP PLAGUE
Cannball jellyfish? Not a box jellyfish
Ayo stop lie nothing aint Cane Garden Bay. People swim all day into the night and no one wqs biten.
On July 8, my son-in-law (2 days after the wedding) was one of those who was hospitalized. We were snorkeling at Norman Island when he was stung across his arms and back. He experienced the most severe symptoms including chest pain and vomiting. Thank goodness there was a doctor on a boat near the customs dock after we rushed back to Tortola.
Fascinating story,I use an app called the jellyfish App pro, whenever I’m going to a beach ; great app
What?
Where CGB has jelly fish?
I was in the water up to this morning.
Stop spreading lies!
CGB does not have jellyfish.
I was in the water up to this morning along with several others.