The purple jellyfish returned to the Greek seas for one more summer and the phenomenon appears to be an outbreak causing concern to local residents, visitors and competent authorities.
According to the Greek Biodiversity Observatory, there is an outbreak in the population of the purple jellyfish (scientific name: Pelagia noctiluca) that is observed in summer 2025 with reports of their presence in various areas.
Areas with Purple Jellyfish reports:
-Chalkida and northern Evia: Presence of purple jellyfish has been recorded.
-Northern Evia: Faces a problem, as it functions as a passage from the Pagasetic Gulf to the open sea.
-Pagasetic Gulf: Jellyfish continue to be present, mainly on its eastern coasts.
-Sporades: Isolated presence recorded
Map of Purple Jellyfish recent presence from the Hellenic Biodiversity Observatory
It seems that there were less purple jelly fish in the last two years but this seems over in 2025.
Bathers should be very careful and in the event of a sting, they should follow the instructions of experts, and have with them the necessary things specified in the specific protocol in case of sting.
Purple jellyfish: What to do in case of sting
The purple jellyfish is a jellyfish of the Pelagic family and the only currently recognized species in its genus. A fairly small and colorful species, both its tentacles and (unusual in jellyfish) bell are covered in stingers. Stings are common, painful and the symptoms may persist for a long time, but are generally not dangerous, reports the National Healthcare organization EODY.
The nematocysts produce redness, swelling, burning, and sometimes severe skin-necrotic, cardio- and neuro-toxic effects on human skin, which are particularly dangerous for sensitive individuals.
Symptoms after contact – sting from a jellyfish can be burning pain, often intense redness of the skin and in some cases the appearance of the jellyfish’s imprint on part of your skin, nausea, drop in blood pressure, tachycardia, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, bronchospasm, shortness of breath, the EODY reported.
Instructions
If we are stung by a purple jellyfish, the EODY advises:
– Remove any tentacles stuck to your body. But not with bare hands, because this will lead to the tentacles sticking to the hands and transferring the irritation there.
– Rinse the bite area with plenty of seawater. If there is no better way, fill your handful with sand and rub the part of the body where the stinger’s tentacles are stuck. Do not use fresh water, because it can activate stingers left in the skin.
– Place ice or cold compresses on the bite site. This limits local skin reactions.
– Apply a cortisone cream to the affected area. It limits the local inflammatory reaction and quickly relieves stinging and itching.
– Take an antihistamine pill. Antihistamines treat more systemic symptoms such as itching. The need for such drugs is greater the larger the area of skin affected.
– If the symptoms are severe and especially if they do not subside after applying local measures, a cortisone injection may be needed. In this case, you should definitely go to the hospital or visit a Health Center.
When should we go to the hospital
In the event of systemic symptoms (rarely) such as: hypotension, hoarseness, inspiratory wheezing, generalized angioedema – extensive urticarial rash, communication disorders – consciousness, vomiting, the patient must be immediately transported to the hospital, the Organization emphasizes.
