There was an article posted somewhere on thaivisa in the past few days ( 24 - 29 March 2016 ) about people suffering skin irritation after swimming at Patong Beach.

Can anyone help me find this article please ?

Thanks !

Here you are:-

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905920-phuket-officials-test-patongs-brown-beach-water-for-pollution/

http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-officials-test-patong-brown-beach-water-for-pollution-56786.php

Many thanks KarenBravo

What I saw on my friends bodies after they swam locally was either a rash or looked more like bites. Years ago in Eastern Malaysia I received similar bites whilst snorkeling. The water insect ( ? ) showed as a red swarm on the surface and stung like a mosquito, the combined bites were painful and caused a mild fever like response. My friends do not mention seeing anything in the water e.g the browning.

These rashes can be caused by either sea lice, or bits of broken-off jellyfish tentacles. Neither are visible in the water.

they are jellyfish nothing to worry about.

Thanks KarenBravo and 2fishin2 - sea lice a new term for me. I had considered algae of some form but not sure that they are invisible. Jellyfish, never seen an "invisible" one. I am used to "seeing" them in Australia especially the Bluebottle, which I have encountered upfront and personal. Also the seasonal plagues of blue / purple jellyfish on the Dutch island of Texel. Whilst living in Texel I had an Irish Setter dog, she loved swimming in the sea for 100's of metres, on the beach she would attack every jellyfish, be stung by every jelly fish, she never did learn.

As it is highly unlikely for the public to get an official response from the govt, perhaps just the "normal' non-reply, what affected the people is open to debate.

My friends rashes ? are starting to quieten down a week later, my concern is that had the trigger for whatever ailed them been a real health risk will it still take 4 or 5 days to get a water sample ? Guess a blind eye will be turned as usual.

Sea lice is an old wives tale....http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/Debunking_the_Sea_Lice_Myth

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/65074865/microscopic-jellyfish-sting-beachgoers

Sea lice is an old wives tale....http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/Debunking_the_Sea_Lice_Myth

"A rose by any other name" etc.

Thks "2fishin2 and "johnatong". Interesting articles. Have swum around Dominica and lived for a few years in Australia - must have been lucky.

You can see them and feel them on your skin, small gellatinous blobs. Seem to coincide with the stinging.