ABC Health & Wellbeing
Reply (Box jellyfish: a travel health warning)
23 May 2013 3:47:38pm
Updating the box jellyfish situation in Thailand - serious stings are not common but occur. The Thai Health Department doctors actively investigate serious stings and inform the health sector while systems of better surveillance are being explored. A medical paper produced by a Thai academic is due for publication, there are others on the situation recently published by international experts. The Phuket Marine Biologicial Centre conducts limited but consistent research across the country. They are establishing links with researchers and scientists from Europe and Australia. The Thais have been fantastic doing all they can on prevention and treatment though it takes time and money of which both are in short supply. There's a long way to go (Malaysia continues to ignore the problem as best as it can - the biggest problem there is Irukandji at Langkawi) and while progress is being made the risk remains and wearing a stinger suit is sensible and vinegar at the beach is a a cheap safeguard. This applies throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Lewis is a well-travelled, lovely 8 year old ball of energy who keeps getting back into the water, in a suit of course.