Phuket Beaches closed due to jellyfish invasion

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If you happen to be in an area where jellyfish are, take along packaged meat tenderizer or a papaya with the fruit removed and just the green area at the rind remains. Both contain papain. Jellyfish stings are protein based. Papain quickly breaks down protein. That's the best first aid you can get for a jellyfish sting.

The jellyfish currently invading the Phuket beaches are the box jellyfish and the Portuguese man-o-war jellyfish. Box jellyfish can be lethal. Portuguese man-o-war usually are not lethal, but if you are allergic or the stings are bad enough, they can be. You don't want to find out the hard way whether or not you are allergic.

Even dead jellyfish washed up on beaches are still dangerous. Don't step on them. Even dead, the stings can still be set off.

I was stung by a Portuguese man-o-war once. Believe me, you do not want to be stung by a Portuguese man-o-war. ever been stung by a bee or a wasp? Multiply the pain by about 100 and you might be getting close to the pain from a Portuguese man-o-war sting.

The Phuket beaches will remain closed until the danger passes.
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Beaches closed in Phuket after Jellyfish invasion

September 25, 2016

Phuket beaches closed as Portuguese man o’ war wash ashore

PHUKET: Officials at Sirinath National Park have closed Nai Thon and Nai Yang beaches after box jellyfish and Portuguese man o’ war have been found washed ashore by storm surf.

The two beaches are closed and beach-goers are urged not to enter the water, Park Chief Kitipas Tharapibal confirmed to The Phuket News today (Sept 24).

Park Chief Kitipas issued an urgent warning yesterday (Sept 23) after lifeguards discovered Portuguese man o’ war and box jellyfish washed at Nai Thon, Nai Yang and several other beaches.

“Please, don’t play in the water or engage in any water activities at these beaches. Also, please don’t touch creatures found on the sand,” Mr Kitipas said.

“These species are among the most toxic in the world,” he added.

Last year a young German tourist and a Thai national died after suffering box jellyfish stings in Surat Thani. There have not been any recent reports of fatal stings by jellyfish-like Portuguese man o’ war in Thailand, but the venom of these jellyfish-like creatures can also cause severe pain or worse in case of allergic reaction.

The Phuket Lifeguard Club Chief Prathaiyuth Chuayuan told The Phuket News that he supports the closure of two beaches within Sirinat National Park

“I think this is a good idea during this time of year,” he said, admitting that tourist safety should be priority.

http://pattayaone.news/en/beaches-close ... h-invasion