An investigation injury of Portuguese man-of-war at the beach in Muang District, Songkhla Province, Thailand, 17–23 February 2018

Abstract

Background: On 19th February 2018, the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 12, Songkhla received notifications of 21 cases of jelly fish induced injuries. We cooperated with the investigation teams to perform the outbreak investigation. The objectives were to confirm the diagnosis and the outbreak, to describe the epidemiological characteristic, to know the risk factor, and to recommend the control measures.
Methods: Descriptive study was conducted. We reviewed the data of jelly fish survey and the medical records of six hospitals located along the beachside. We interviewed the patients as well as their parents. The laboratory study was conducted by collecting a sample of jellyfish to identify their species by molecular biology. The environmental study were also performed.
Results: During 17-23 February 2018, thirty-two patients were found, median age was 8 years old ( ranged 1-47 years). The highest number of cases was found on 18th February 2018 during 12.00-17.59 pm. The most common symtoms among the cases were burning pain (96.9%) and reddish wounds (87.5%). Most of the patients applied the morning glory leaf on the wound as their first aid 37.5%. For the occurring place, Chalatat beach 43.8%, Samila beach 18.8% and Kaoseng beach 9.4%. The jellyfish’ species was classified as Physalia utriculus with density approximately 25 per 10 meters. For environmental survey, we found the contents of jellyfish injury firstaid on the tourist boards along the beach were not update. The tourist board and the vinegar poles along the beach were still not enough when compared to length of the beach.
Recommendations: We recommend 1) Songkhla city municipal updates the contents of jellyfish injury first-aid on the tourist boards, increase the number of the tourist boards as well as the vinegar poles along the beach and provides safeguards for the tourist at the beach on the long weekend. 2) Songkhla Provincial Public Health Office (SPPHO) trains health personnel, local government officers, tourist volunteers and people living along the beachside on the jellyfish injury first-aid training modules. And 3) SPPHO set the jellyfish injury surveillance system which include related agencies/units as the reporting network.