Box Jellyfish are back at Thai Beaches

[fountainhall]

When the first box jellyfish were discovered off Phuket some years ago, there was considerable coverage in the media – outside Thailand. Fearful for the tourist industry, the Thai media steered well clear – or were persuaded to do so.

Now these nasty buggers are appearing in greater numbers and are moving north. Several have been found on beaches in Trat Province in the south east. Warming of the sea is the main reason why they have left their native waters off Australia. Claimed to be the most venomous marine creature known to mankind, their stings can quickly induce paralysis leading to death. Transparent and with its body pale blue in colour, each of its four corners has about 15 tentacles, each with up to 1,000 stinging cells. Last year two tourists died as a result of stings off Koh Samui.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... rt-in-trat

The TAT and all Australian websites, including those of the Government and the Australian St. John’s Ambulance continue to recommend not touching the stings or dousing the affected area with anything other than vinegar as temporary first aid. Thereafter get the person to hospital as fast as possible.

Some researchers have questioned the use of vinegar but this goes against the vast majority of expert advice.

The media suggests that the research concluded that vinegar should not be used on box jellyfish stings. This is not the case. The research concluded that further research is required . . . It is currently concluded that there is insufficient evidence to start recommending that vinegar should not be used in box jellyfish stings.

http://www.stjohnnsw.com.au/vinegar-tre ... sh-stings/

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/sea-creature-stings

[Gaybutton]

Another thing you can do is to keep a container of meat tenderizer or a papaya with you. Papayas contain papain, a natural enzyme that breaks down protein. Jellyfish stings are protein based stings. You would hollow out the papaya and press the skin against the sting.

Meat tenderizer also contains papain. The papain is what tenderizes the meat.

I can't say from experience that it works with Box jellyfish stings, but it does work with other jellyfish stings - as I found out the hard way.

In any case, Box jellyfish stings are very dangerous and can even be fatal. Fortunately, no Box jellyfish sightings or sting victims have been reported in the Pattaya area. But you don't need Box jellyfish to make Pattaya waters dangerous. The water pollution alone is dangerous enough . . .

[fountainhall]

But you don't need Box jellyfish to make Pattaya waters dangerous. The water pollution alone is dangerous enough . . .

Perhaps that will kill them off before they get close to Pattaya!