Six-year-old girl stung in Ocean County and hospitalized by invasive clinging jellyfish
First documented in New Jersey in 2016, they've taken up residence from Cape May to Sandy Hook in rivers, bays, and areas of brackish water, but not in the ocean.
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Clinging jellyfish were first spotted in New Jersey bays 10 years ago, and after a little girl was stung last week, they’re back again.
You may not even see them before it's too late. They’re only the size of a quarter, but they pack enough venom to send grown adults to the ER in crippling pain.
“Clinging jellies are a small, invasive jellyfish about the size of a quarter from the Pacific Ocean,” said Dr. Paul Bologna, the director of the Marine Biology program at Montclair State University, and the leading expert on jellyfish in New Jersey.
First documented in New Jersey in 2016, they've taken up residence from Cape May to Sandy Hook in rivers, bays, and areas of brackish water, but not in the ocean.
Last week, 6-year-old Amelia Colvin was in the Metedeconk River when a clinging jellyfish got stuck between her life vest and skin.
“A young girl was stung and basically spent three days in agonizing pain,” said Dr. Bologna.
After three trips to the ER and doctors' offices and numerous phone calls, it would be five days before the pain finally eased for little Amelia.
Dr. Bologna can't predict just how bad a season it will be.
“On Thursday I was able to pick up about 300 of them in a very small area in about an hour and they tend to be very abundant in places with algae in our coastal bays,” he said.
Once water temperatures reach 82 degrees, they die off, usually by early to mid-July.
Dr. Bologna says if you happen to get stung by a clinging jelly, the best immediate treatment is to use a bottle of Sting No More, only available online. He also says there are plenty of home remedies you can do before heading to urgent care or the ER.
“White vinegar helps stop the stinging cells that haven't gone and kind of wash the water you're in, wipe it clean, and then a hot compress as you can do it. Heat will help break down the venoms that have been injected.”
Amelia's mom Julianne hopes that spreading awareness of the danger will help other parents and children.
Dr. Bologna wants doctors, hospitals, and ER staff to be ready for more patients and treat them accordingly, as there's still so much to learn about the tiny invasive jellies that can cause significant pain.
“We don't have enough data really to understand how those blooms happen in the wild,” said Dr. Bologna.
