Ah, summer: the lazy, hazy time when Americans adjourn to beaches in droves to soak up the sun--and this year, at least, to get stung by jellyfish.
More than 800 people at beaches along Florida's Atlantic coast were stung this weekend by the swarm of purple-colored sea creatures, which washed up on shore en masse, thanks to consistent east winds, according to Eisen Wicher, a Brevard County Ocean Rescue official.
CNN interviewed one local family, the Smiths, who said they'd driven for three quarters of an hour to get to Cocoa Beach, but left after five minutes when their daughter was stung.
The stings cause itching, burning, and rashes, similar to a bee sting, but aren't usually serious, unless the victim is allergic. Lifeguards have a vinegar solution on hand to neutralize the stinging cells.
Still, two people were taken to the hospital after suffering from respiratory problems, Witcher said.
Thousands more, understandably spooked by the jellyfish, stayed out of the water.
Portuguese man o' war and cannonball jellyfish make relatively frequent appearances Atlantic coast beaches. But this weekend's horde was a different species, believed to be called mauve stingers, on account of their purplish hue.
The uninvited guests were enough to drive some beach-goers to change their plans. "We're going to a pool, where there's no jellyfish," one man said. VIDEO
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