Box Jellfish Alert On Phuket: Death In Krabi

[alanmorison]

URGENT HELP is being sought from Australian researchers after the discovery of box jellyfish in the sea around Phuket and a death in waters off the more remote resort destination of Krabi.

While marine biologists say it is too early for tourists to be alarmed, research on the prevalence of the deadly marine creatures has become a priority.

An Australian whose son survived a jellyfish sting in the Gulf of Siam believes Thailand may have more box jellyfish deaths than Australia, but these mostly go unreported.

One Swedish tourist died from a box jellyfish sting off the coast of Krabi, in April this year.

A spokesperson for the Phuket Marine Biology Centre said that testing is likely to confirm biologists' suspicions that the type discovered on Phuket is not the same variety as the killer box jellyfish.

The jellyfish discovered off Phuket were caught in mangrove traps at Nam Bor Bay, near Phuket City on the east coast of the island, on July 30.

-- Full report at www.phuketwan.com

Edited October 20, 2008 by alanmorison

[alanmorison]

I should have made it plain: jellyfish don't attack, ok? They just don't like sharing.

[alanmorison]

Phuket's Marine Biological Centre has issued an alert over the presence of box jellyfish in waters off Krabi and Phuket. Scientists are continuing to try to define more clearly the dangers, without unnecessary alarm.

THE DIRECTOR of the centre, Vannakiat Thubthimsaeng, has alerted key tourism, media, hospitals, local authorities and the Governor that potentially dangerous box jellyfish are in the waters of the region.

His warning comes in a letter sent dated October 21 to a long list of people in high positions on the island.

It follows the death of a Swedish girl tourist off Koh Lanta in April and two news reports this week by Phuketwan that revealed the presence of box jellyfish in the sea off Phuket's east coast.

--more at www.phuketwan.com

[NBT TV Phuket]

VDO Interview about box jellyfish in mangrove of Andaman Sea

VDO Interview Dr Somchai Bussarawit, Chief of Reference Collection & Phuket Aquarium on box jellyfish in Phuket & Krabi

National News Bureau Public Relations Department

or

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 Lanta’s 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 Phuket’s west coast so far: ……....

Any jellyfish stings should be treated with vinegar not water, nor urine, as soon as possible. Contact: Tel 076 391126 fax 076 391406 [email protected]

Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Monday 27 October 2008 & NNT : National News Bureau of Thailand & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews.com Send comments to [email protected]

[NBT TV Phuket]

Item-6--- in VDO on http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...php?news_id=789

Phuket Marine Biological centre issues warning for marine tourism operators to beware after a tourist is hurt by a Box Jellyfish near Phi Phi Island.

Phuket Marine Biological Centre or PMBC issued a letter dated 4th November, informing fishermen, tourist operators and swimmers to beware and avoid touching any jelly fish after the office was informed by a tour agent on November 3rd that one of its guest divers was hurt (not killed as a national newspaper reported) by a box jelly fish. The incident happened at Loh Salam Bay, at Phi Phi Island in Krabi and the tourist was sent to Phi Phi health station, then the Krabi Hospital for treatment. A marine biologist Ukgrit Sataphumin suggests that diving operators should impose additional safety measures by inspecting the diving sites before diving activities. Vinegar must be stocked on board while at sea as it is an effective first aid treatment for the poison. Andaman News asked Dr. Bancha Kahkhong, the Krabi provincial Health Chief who is also Acting Director for Krabi Hospital about the case, but he said he was not informed about it. The chief doctor however stated that he ordered officials to make a survey and site visit to popular swimming locations.

[HorseDoctor]

The is a Letter to the Editor in Gazette from someone claiming to have been stung, thougoh not seriously - off Bang Tao beach and the Sheraton has warning signs up .

[Kan Win]

there is a letter to the editor in Phuket Gazette , a man claims to have been stung by a jelly fish , though not life threatening so, at Bang Tao Beach on the West coast

Sheraton, on the same beach has signs up warning swimmers.

Hi 'HorseDoctor',

Any chance of a link to this letter? or the text of it please

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[huggybear]

The is a Letter to the Editor in Gazette from someone claiming to have been stung, thougoh not seriously - off Bang Tao beach and the Sheraton has warning signs up .

Yesterday I bought vinegar and will make it a habit of bringing that along to the beach as I swim a lap at Nai Hairn pretty regularly.

Anybody who spends a good amount of time in the ocean might want to start carrying a bit of vinegar along...........just in case.

[angiud]

This happen in Koh Phangan in August 2002:

Australian dies from jellyfish stings

August 21 2002

An Australian man has died from multiple stings by a toxic jellyfish near a popular backpacker resort on a southern Thai island.

Sean Tyrrell, 25, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Ban Don Inter-clinic on Koh Phangan island after being stung in the late afternoon of August 9, a spokeswoman at the clinic said.

Mr Tyrrell, from Victoria, was stung while swimming at Koh Phangan's Hat Rin beach, popular with backpacker travellers for regular full moon rave parties.

Officials said he suffered terrible pain from the stings which left large welt marks on his legs.

"The long tentacles wrapped around his legs three or four times each. It would have been an excruciating death," an official said.

Officials and the hospital spokeswoman said they were unaware of the species of jellyfish which caused the deaths.

Australia has warned travellers to the resort island 650km south of Bangkok to "exercise extreme caution" when swimming.

Two days after Mr Tyrrell's death, a Moroccan woman died at the nearby Koh Samui hospital after being stung while also swimming at Koh Phangan Island.

Thai police stationed on the island have since been handing out leaflets warning visitors against swimming, especially in the latter part of the day and early evening.

But officials said many of the travellers were disregarding the warnings.

"There is a general culture on the island that all is OK," one official said.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a warning last week advising Australians to "exercise extreme care" about the safety of swimming in particular locations on the island.

"Due to the uncertainty about the species and toxicity of the jellyfish that caused the deaths, swimmers, snorkellers, and divers are advised to leave the water if jellyfish are spotted," DFAT said in the notice.

The deaths have surprised the diving community, with southern Thailand one of the most popular locations for deep sea diving in South East Asia, especially during the peak season of November through to March.

But the country is presently in the grip of the rainy monsoon season, with the waters clouded from river silt and evidence of jellyfish along many beaches in the southern provinces.

Tony Green, managing director of Phuket-based H2O Sports said the deaths were unheard of.

"We take a lot of divers and had people stung. But from our experience those are minor. We have never heard of or seen a potential lethal jellyfish," Mr Green said.

from :smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/20/1029114105350.html

[happyaussie]

Having lived in Far North Queensland for several years before relocating to Phuket I am seriosuly concerned about the recently reported problems of Box jellyfish. If they get a hold we could say goodby to a lot of tourist $$.

Here's why; From November to May between the top of Australia down the East coast past Townsville and beyond you will see 1000's of km's of perfect beaches with not one soul on them. People are not permitted to swim in the ocean during this period due to the jellyfish. Even wading along the shoreline is risky. In populated areas councils build stinger proof enclosures for bathers. But even these are not infalible, because a 5m long tenticle breaking off as it brushes against the net can also kill.

It's a fact, every year in North Quesnsland people die and 1000's get stung. Even a dead one on the beach can cause serious injuries.

One of their only natural preditors, the Turtle, was pretty well wiped out last century for buttons and combs. Those Turtles that are left are choking to death on plastic bags. Thinking they are jellyfish.

A scary situation for Phuket and it's envirous.