Kedah: The Kedah government hopes that an antidote for jellyfish stings will be made available at Sultanah Maliha Hospital (HSM), Langkawi, following the tragedy that claimed the life of a two-year-old Russian toddler recently.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kedah Tourism, Culture and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Salleh Saidin stated that although the incident was considered isolated, the antidote must be made available to protect the public. He has discussed this matter with the chairman of the Kedah Health Committee, noting that currently, no antidote is available in the state, including Langkawi, while it is accessible in several other places like Sabah.

Mohd Salleh expressed the need to address this issue with the Ministry of Health to ensure the antidote is also placed in Langkawi, emphasizing the presence of beaches in Langkawi similar to those in Sabah. His comments followed a meeting with the parents of a Russian child who died from a box jellyfish sting after an encounter at Pantai Chenang on November 15. The boy, Vladimir Iakubanets, succumbed to the sting at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) after five days of treatment.

Mohd Salleh also announced plans to convene a meeting with relevant agencies on November 24 to specifically discuss beach safety. The meeting will include experts to conduct further studies on jellyfish, with visitor safety as the main priority.

Despite the jellyfish sting being an isolated incident in Langkawi, the state government takes the matter seriously, as the resort island attracts millions of tourists annually.