Phuket : Box Jellyfish

**Mid** · 28-10-2008, 11:57 AM

They’re here! Box Jellyfish found in Phuket waters
Monday, October 27, 2008

PANWA: The Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) has issued an official warning following the collection of almost 40 box jellyfish in a trap in shallow waters off Ao Nambor, on Phuket’s east coast.

Some 38 of the jellyfish, which favor shallow brackish water, were recovered from a fish trap in a mangrove area on July 30. Eighteen more were found in the same area over a two-day collection period starting on October 20.

The search for the deadly jellyfish followed the reported death of a Swedish tourist off Koh Lanta, where another person was reported stung on April 3 this year.

A two-hour search using a seine off Koh Lanta on August 22 recovered 13 specimens, six of the multi-tentacled Chirodropidae family and seven of the smaller, single-tentacled Carybdeidae family.

The PMBC began their search for the jellyfish in Phuket in early July, working jointly with members of the the Disease Control Department’s Epidemiology Office.

The researchers have also questioned staff at four hospitals along the Andaman Coast to learn the incidence and type of jellyfish stings that heave been reported there.

Somchai Bussarawit, Chief of Reference Collection at the PMBC’s Phuket Aquarium, is working with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Australia to identify the collected specimens.

Of seven specimens collected at Ao Nambor that have already been sent to the institute, one has been confirmed as a Chirosoides buitendijkl, one of the seven members of the Chirodropidae family, he said.

The PMBC is preparing to send six more specimens which are thought possibly to be of the Carybdeidae family, he said.

The PMBC researcher, who expressed surprise at the discovery of these box jellies in local waters, said searches will now be conducted monthly.

Noting that he is not an expert in jellyfish, he said it was still unsure what threat the collected species found at Ao Nambor posed to people.

Although there have been no reports of box jellyfish stings in Phuket waters, the PMBC has issued a warning advising the public on what measures to take if they are stung.

Although not all box jellyfish are dangerous to humans, stings from the most venomous varieties can cause death within four minutes if the venom reaches the heart and causes cardiac arrest.

Any person who has suffered a possible box jellyfish sting should get out of the water as soon as possible, have his or her pulse rate monitored, and undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of heart failure.

The site of a sting should immediately be treated with vinegar to stop further injection of the toxin, the PMBC advises.

Do not rub or scratch the site of the sting or apply fresh water or alcohol to it, the PMBC advises.

Mr Somchai reiterated that there have been no box jellyfish sitings on west coast beaches, where the seawater is generally too saline an environment for box jellies.

However, he advises seaside resorts in all parts of the island to keep bottles of vinegar as a standard part of their first aid kits as it is effective in healing stings from other kinds of less venomous jellyfish.

phuketgazette.net

could have a detrimental effect on tourism that will well surpasses anything political or economic .

.

**good2bhappy** · 28-10-2008, 12:10 PM

all they need now is a few great whites to up the tourism

**benlovesnuk** · 28-10-2008, 12:19 PM

Too warm for great whites............they like waters a little colder!

**jandajoy** · 28-10-2008, 12:25 PM

Salties heading this way soon.............

**Loy Toy** · 28-10-2008, 12:26 PM

Good warning thread mate.

With the rapid change in the ocean temperatures these creatures seem to have migrated up from the Northern Australian Coastline which is a real shame for Phuket's tourist industry.

What next for Thailand and in particular Phuket........???

Can see box jelly fish alarms going off and half of Phuket heading for the mountains.

They better get their alarms right and in a hurry and they must warn the tourists about the risks as these creatures are deadly!

**benlovesnuk** · 28-10-2008, 12:30 PM

i take it that they sting from the tentacle so if you're on surf board then its unlikely you would be stung?????

**good2bhappy** · 28-10-2008, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by jandajoy

Salties heading this way soon.............

They used to be here but they got shot and eaten

**Bexar County Stud** · 28-10-2008, 12:50 PM

I was watching the Bondi Beach rescue show on the Aussie Network, and the lifeguards claimed that vinegar is not a fact a remedy for jellyfish stings. Same as tapwater. However, they continue to treat folks with vinegar because that's what people expect will make them feel better.

**Loy Toy** · 28-10-2008, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

so if you're on surf board then its unlikely you would be stung?????

Phuket has surf..............?

If you take your board through the face of a wave then most certainly you can get those tenticles wrapped around you.

I've been stung by Blue Bottle Jelly fish on numerous occasions and although they are not deadly they hurt like fcuk with all your glands swelling with the sting marks staying visible for years and like a long line scar.

**Mid** · 28-10-2008, 12:57 PM

ourdotcom.com

and there's a blog here with warnings dated March 11, 2008

PADI, diving and Instructor Development (IDC): Box jelly fish warning for Thailand waters

**benlovesnuk** · 28-10-2008, 01:21 PM

wow, that's interesting.........like a really crazy tattoo certainly looks painful.

phuket is one of only a few places in thailand that has a season for surfing, although it is on the west coast which as the report said is less likely to have this jelly...hopefully

!!!!!

**Mid** · 28-10-2008, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Bexar County Stud

I was watching the Bondi Beach rescue show on the Aussie Network, and the lifeguards claimed that vinegar is not a fact a remedy for jellyfish stings. Same as tapwater. However, they continue to treat folks with vinegar because that's what people expect will make them feel better.

Treatment:

If you are stung, or are with someone else who has been stung, the treatment will vary depending on where you are, and what type of stinger is involved.

In tropical waters:(generally north of Bundaberg in Queensland and Geraldton in Western Australia)

Jellyfish capable of causing life-threatening stings primarily occur along the tropical coastline of Australia from Bundaberg in Queensland northwards, across the northern coastline and down to Geraldton in Western Australia.

In areas where dangerous tropical jellyfish are prevalent, (e.g. Box Jellyfish or Irukandji), if the species causing the sting cannot be clearly identified, it is safer, to treat the victim with vinegar.

It is recommended that a full-body lycra suit, or equivalent, be worn to provide a good measure of protection against marine stings, particularly during the stinger season, which generally runs from November to March.

For tropical jellyfish stings:

· Remove the patient from the water and restrain if necessary

· Call for help (dial 000 or get a surf lifesaver or lifeguard to help you)

· Assess the patient and commence CPR as necessary

· Liberally douse the stung area with vinegar to neutralise invisible stinging cells – do not wash with fresh water

· If vinegar is unavailable, pick off any remnants of the tentacles (this is not harmful to the rescuer) and rinse sting well with seawater (not freshwater)

· Seek medical assistance with rapid transport to hospital

http://www.slsa.com.au/site/_content...-docsource.pdf

Stings by tropical jellyfish require completely different treatment, in particular the immediate calling of an ambulance and, if available, dousing the stung area in vinegar to neutralise any remaining stinging cells from injecting more venom into the skin.

News

Stinger Death Sends Warning : News

**benlovesnuk** · 28-10-2008, 01:52 PM

so as long as im wearing my lycra surf gear im pretty much a ok..........just everyone will think im a dork but the likely hood of death will be reduced!!!!!!!!superb

vinegar and lycra what a lovely combination!

**dirtydog** · 28-10-2008, 02:22 PM

Urine is supposed to work on jelly fish stings

Man gets finger bitten off by moray eel video (Diver airlifted from Similians after ‘fish’ attack)

**benlovesnuk** · 28-10-2008, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Urine is supposed to work on jelly fish stings

Only handy if you know a lady by that name

**panama hat** · 28-10-2008, 02:57 PM

Mrs Hat got a bit of a sting from a Box and it was treated by urine from me . . . and vinegar from the lifeguard near Cairns . . .

Didn't like the reverse option.

**deepee** · 28-10-2008, 06:59 PM

Read on another forum of a 4 m. long supposed Great white shark being unloaded off a fishing boat at Hua hin in Feb this year.
Seems there were a couple of witnesses who were familiar with these critters and were " dead positive" it was a GWP.

**benlovesnuk** · 28-10-2008, 10:13 PM

thats a bit vague, and is like the same mythical tale we get in the uk but turns out to be a basking shark or something else!!!!!!

I can understand that there is a possibility a GW shark could be in the sea around thailand, but the likely hood of this is so small, as it is to warm for them.

It was im sure a shark but not a great white!!!!!!! Im thinking the smaller the mouth the better, im guessing tiger but id rather take my chances with that than a GW any day vicious predator, scourge of the sea!!!!!!!!

**pickel** · 28-10-2008, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by benlovesnuk

Im thinking the smaller the mouth the better, im guessing tiger but id rather take my chances with that than a GW any day vicious predator, scourge of the sea!!!!!!!!

Not that I'd like to see either, but I would much rather see a GW than a Tiger shark. GW attacks are mostly mistaken identity, while a Tiger shark is pure predator.

**benlovesnuk** · 29-10-2008, 12:06 AM

yeah but id rather have my hand taken away then half my body.........

i saw some kids playing with a tiger shark the noosed it and then took it for a ride until it got tired then ate it...........pretty savage in fact..... fuKking kids!!!!!!!!!!

**nedwalk** · 29-10-2008, 04:17 AM

most of the beaches on the northern qld beaches have vinigar available, however i got a mate at the university in townsville doing marine biology, they are researching warm/hot water on the stings

Originally Posted by panama hat

treated by urine from me .

warm fluid? did it help her? i know it sounds off, but maybe just the thing to have on hand so,s to speak, especially if it helped

**Happyman** · 29-10-2008, 04:24 AM

Urine works on weaver fish stings in UK and the Med as well !

**Bexar County Stud** · 29-10-2008, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by Mid

Stings by tropical jellyfish require completely different treatment, in particular the immediate calling of an ambulance and, if available, dousing the stung area in vinegar to neutralise any remaining stinging cells from injecting more venom into the skin.

I stand corrected, my bad.

**panama hat** · 29-10-2008, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by nedwalk

most of the beaches on the northern qld beaches have vinigar available, however i got a mate at the university in townsville doing marine biology, they are researching warm/hot water on the stings

Originally Posted by panama hat

treated by urine from me .

warm fluid? did it help her? i know it sounds off, but maybe just the thing to have on hand so,s to speak, especially if it helped

It did . . . something about the uric acid as an antiseptic.

**dirtydog** · 05-11-2008, 05:50 PM

Our interview is with Dr Somchai Bussarawit, Chief of Reference Collection & Phuket Aquarium. Following the death of a tourist by a presumed deadly Box Jellyfish off Koh Lantas west coast of Krabi, in April this year, letters, cooperation & research are being exchanged with Australian jellyfish experts on types here, with an info exhibition now at Phuket Aquarium & letter issued to all concerned agencies & hotels; as Dr Somchai insists that deadly Box Jellyfish have not been found on Phukets West coast so far:

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