Box jellyfish

Health alert

Status: Active

Last updated: 01/10/2023

Issued by: The Chief Health Officer

Issued to: the Public

Jellyfish are an active part of the NT ocean environment.

Chironex fleckeri is a sea animal, also known as the major box jellyfish. It has the most rapidly acting venom known to science and is capable of killing a person in under 5 minutes.

Current situation

It is now stinger season in the Northern Territory (NT).

Venomous box jellyfish are more likely to be in the water from October up until the end of May.

Territorians and visitors must be highly vigilant around coastal waters as the box jellyfish can be almost invisible in water. The best advice is to stay out of the sea.

For patrolled beaches in the Northern Territory, go to the surf life saving Australia's beach safe website.

Read the latest media release by NT Health.

Notifiable disease

Box jellyfish stings are not a notifiable disease.

Information for health professionals

TypeResourceAuthor
DocumentBox Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) PDF (156.4 KB)NT Health
DocumentIrukandji syndrome fact sheet PDF (161.8 KB)NT Health

Information for the public

TypeResourceAuthor
WebpageBox jellyfishNorthern Territory Government
WebpageJellyfish stingsHealth direct
WebpageBeach safe locationsSurf life saving Australia

Contact

Contact the Public Health Unit’s Centre for Disease Control.


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