Deadly Cone Shell

New Caledonian Death

Deadly Cone Shell Claims Another Victim

Conus geographus, the deadly

cone shell, claimed another victim in New Caledonia in September when a nine-year-old native girl, Poma Das Poapit, died from a sting after picking up one of the shells on a beach at the east coast centre of Poindimie. fPHIS was the third known death from a Conus geographus sting in New Caledonia. The first occurred many years ago; and the second took place in December, 1960, when Theophile Gnai, a native farmer’s labourer, was stung on the hand at Pouebo, on the north-east coast ( PIM, Dec., 1960, p. 37).

Other deaths from Conus geo graphus stings may have occurred among natives in the past, but were wrongly diagnosed.

In the New Hebrides less than 12 months ago, a 23-year-old Viet namese, Vu Nhu Ngos, narrowly escaped death after being stung by a Conus geographus, which he had put in his shirt while fishing at night.

Prompt hospital treatment saved him.

Conus geographus is one of nine species of cone shell which are re ported to have fatally stung humans.

The others are Conus tulipa, C. striatus, C. magus, C. stercusmus carium, C. catus, C. aulicus, C. textile and C. marmoreus.

In The News Conus geographus was in the news in Australia earlier this year when Sydney detectives investigated a theory that poison from that shell may have killed two people who were found dead in mysterious circum stances in a Sydney suburb after at tending a New Year’s Eve party.

Following the announcement of this theory, PIM published an article (July, p. 29) warning Islands people to beware of all cone shells if they did not know one species from another.

Since the death of the girl at Poindimie, Noumea newspapers have urged the authorities to undertake an educational campaign to acquaint New Caledonians with the danger posed by the lethal cone shells.

Illustrated articles and posters have been suggested as a means.