Koh Mak and Koh Kood Stings Send A Warning


Reports are starting to come in of an increase in box jellyfish stings on the eastern Gulf of Thailand islands of Koh Mak and Koh Kood.

Over the past week (6 - 13 December 2016) there have been four reported stings requiring hospitalisation. All of the stings have involved tourists.

It is understood that the world's most highly venomous animal, the Chironex box jellyfish, is responsible for the stings.

All visitors should be warned that at the moment you are taking a life or injury-threatening risk by entering the sea to walk in the shallows, swim, snorkel or undertake any beach activity.

Anyone intending on entering the water around Koh Mak and Koh Kood can significantly reduce or eliminate the risk by wearing a full length lycra stinger suit.

Fortunately both islands are well prepared to treat stings due to proper education and training with vinegar available on the beach. Though depending on the severity of the sting, this may not be enough.

Ask the locals if there have been any sightings or stings on their beach - and please take care!

Further Reading:



Comments

  1. On Koh Mak Island, the incidents of contact with Chironex type Box-Jellyfish have been increasing year on year, almost every day there is someone stung. Most resort owners will not admit to this in fear of damaging their income, they also take down the vinegar stations from the beach to avoid any questions from unsuspecting customers....

    This is a "WARNING" to all visitors to Koh Mak; Keep all of the family especially the children covered from head to toe in a suitable Lycra sing/rash guard if they go in the sea, it will only be a matter of time before a fatality occurs on Koh Mak unless the resort owners take responsibility and admit to the issue, post appropriate information warning signs and allow the placing of vinegar stations as advised by the Bangkok marine biologists who are monitoring the increasing number of jellyfish around the islands.

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  2. Thanks for the information. Not good news. Hopefully the authorities can put some pressure on the locals to come clean and be upfront with their guests.

    Please note that if there are nets in the water at the moment do not think you will be safe swimming within them. Box jellyfish are swimmers, not floaters, and they can and are getting inside these nets. Until properly designed box jellyfish-proof nets are installed, the current nets are unsafe - no matter what anyone says!

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  3. Yes, we were lucky that our 2 years old daughter wear a Lycra suit for the sun protection. We spend 4 nights on Koh Mak and after we were poisoned by jellyfish we didn't have the courage to go into the water again. Even the net fish seems that are not so protective since are waves and jellyfishes can easily enter into " protected area". Anyhow the owner of Monkey Resort were we stayed is a criminal as he hides the dangerous from tourist. He saw us being with small children and didn't even told us. The hospitals are full with incident. Shame on them.

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  4. I'm supposed to go in Koh Chang with children and I was wondering if there are any jellyfish there as it is not that far from Ko Mak. Where can I get the information? Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. No reports of box jellyfish at Koh Chang. Try this site - informative and reliable www.iamKohChang.com

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    2. To be honest after we were attacked by jellyfishes in Koh Mak, I wouldn't have courage to let my child without Lycra suit in the water again. That full Lycra suit save my child life and only us were afected. After one week the scar from jellyfishes reappears and hurts, it is a delayed reaction and it's so bad.

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