Danger lurks in the waters off Krabi and Phuket.

The box jellyfish, or 'sea wasp' is silent, hard to see and, in some cases, deadly.

The jellyfish, one of the most poisonous in the world, has recently been spotted in Phuket's Nambor Bay, Krabi's Loh Samah Bay and the islands of Lanta and Phi Phi.

There have been several cases this year of swimmers getting stung. So far, one person has died.

Victims were treated at Krabi Provincial Hospital and Phi Phi island health station.

An official warning to tourists has been issued by Tourism Authority of Thailand to be careful when swimming at the beaches.

'The venom from a box jellyfish can kill a human in less than three minutes,' Phuket Marine Biological Centre director Wannakiat Tubtimsang told the Nation.

Fatal encounter

Mr Wannakiat said one swimmer died last month after suffering box-jellyfish stings.

'Burning pain on the skin is the first sign of contact,' said Mr Wannakiat, adding that if the box jellyfish venom enters the bloodstream, the victim can suffer congestive heart failure.

He also said that unlike most jellyfish, this one is aggressive and attacks its prey.

Mr Somchai Bussarawit, the chief of the museum and aquarium at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, told the Bangkok Post that there had been no reports of this type of box jellyfish being found in Thai waters before.

'We are not sure whether it is a primitive species living here or a foreign species. We have no information. That is why we have to set up a team to investigate it,' he said.

Experts in Australia and Japan would be asked to assist the study.

'I hope the study will generate prevention and caution with the public. I don't want to disturb the tourism sector, but people should know the facts and know how to make themselves safe,' Mr Somchai said. He also said warning signs should be put up.

Mr Wannakiat warned people against using cold water to alleviate the pain of a box-jellyfish sting.

'That can make things worse,' he said.

'The best solution is to apply vinegar or hot water, then get to a doctor as fast as possible.'

Mr Somchai said hotels should also have vinegar in their emergency kits.

Meanwhile, over in Malaysia a whopping 29 food outlets in the three most popular food areas in Port Dickson were closed down for 14 days last Friday because of serious health violations, reported the Malay Mail.

Health authorities uncovered hazardous food practices in an operation that covered 32 eateries, including seafood restaurants, bistros and hawker outlets, in Teluk Kemang, Lukut and the town centre at the popular beach resort.

They included rat droppings in food, inadequate hand washing by employees and insects on the premises

Negri Sembilan State Health Department director Dr Zainal Ariffin said last month that a restaurant in Lukut was closed down after the operator was caught using the toilet to store food, rice, onions and potatoes.

Dr Zainal said officers were shocked to discover rat droppings in the flour, chilli paste and other raw materials.

Cooking utensils were also washed on dirty floors while foreign help were found to have an indifferent attitude towards hygiene.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Nov 14, 2008.