Over 50 people are believed to have already been stung
The Vila Real de Santo António Port Authority has released a statement warning beachgoers to beware of jellyfish after over 50 people are believed to have been stung at beaches in Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.
“This year we had higher numbers than usual, specifically in a particular occurrence last Tuesday, where about 50 to 60 people showed symptoms of itchy hives, apparently from contact with the so-called jellyfish,” port commander Afonso Martins told Rádio Renascença.
As he explained, jellyfish have “very long tentacles, and they often wash up on the shore, usually when the wind is coming from the southeast, also known as ‘levante,’ which pushes these animals onto land and obviously puts them in contact with bathers.”
The good news is that no Portuguese man o’ wars – which are often referred to as jellyfish but are actually a species of siphonophore, a group of animals that are closely related to jellyfish – have been spotted so far.
“What we know is that Portuguese man o’ wars are much more dangerous, and the precautions are different. In the warnings that are being issued, Portuguese man o’ wars are specifically addressed because the precautions to be taken are also specific and different,” the port commander explained.
What to do in case of contact with a jellyfish (or a Portuguese man o’ war)?
The Vila Real de Santo António Port Authority’s statement has provided advice for bathers if they are stung by jellyfish or Portuguese man o’wars (which stand out for being blue, pink or purple and having long tentacles which can reach 50 metres):
For jellyfish stings:
- Do not rub or scratch the affected area to avoid spreading the venom.
- Do not use fresh water, alcohol, or ammonia.
- Do not apply bandages.
- Gently wash with seawater.
- Carefully remove the tentacles of the jellyfish (if they are stuck to the skin) using gloves, plastic tweezers, and saline solution or seawater.
- If possible, apply a mixture of equal parts of baking soda and seawater.
- Apply cold (chilled seawater or ice packs) to the affected area to relieve pain (ice should not be applied directly to the skin but wrapped in a cloth).
- Take a pain reliever to alleviate the pain.
- Apply a thin layer of burn ointment specifically designed for jellyfish stings.
For Portuguese man o’ war stings:
- Do not rub or scratch the affected area to avoid spreading the venom.
- Do not use fresh water, alcohol, or ammonia.
- Do not apply bandages.
- Gently wash with seawater.
- Carefully remove the tentacles of the Portuguese man o’ war (if they are stuck to the skin) using gloves, plastic tweezers, and saline solution or seawater.
- Apply vinegar to the affected area.
- Apply warm compresses or warm water to relieve the pain.
- Seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
UPDATE: Over 120 sightings of the medusa-tambor (barrel jellyfish) have also been reported through GelAvista, IPMA’s citizen science program, across the Algarve, from Vila Real de Santo António to Lagos, but particularly in the Eastern Algarve.
“It is a jellyfish of large dimensions, with a bell that can reach 60 centimetres in diametre. It is characterised by its short and leafy oral arms, with long dark-coloured appendages at the ends,” IPMA (the national sea and atmosphere institute) says in a statement.
IPMA advises that, in case of direct contact with the skin, cold compresses should be applied for about 15 minutes after washing and cleaning the affected area with seawater.
GelAvista advises against touching the organisms, even when they appear to be dead on the beach, as well as attempting to return them to the sea.
IPMA also recommends that the presence of jellyfish be signalled and their location communicated to lifeguards.
“Preferably, the ecosystem should not be interfered with, but if necessary, the organisms can be removed as organic waste and should never be buried,” it informs.
