BLUEBOTTLES INVADE DURBAN BEACHES

Durban locals have warned tourists heading that way for the holidays that they have to be careful when going to the beach.

This comes after a massive bluebottle invasion has taken over some of Durban’s beaches.

Although they’re mostly harmful, bluebottle stings can be incredibly painful. Some people can be super sensitive and could end up in hospital while others can be in pain for about an hour or two before the pain disappears.

Most people get confused between blue bottles and jellyfish.

East Coast Radio reports that bluebottles aren’t jellyfish. They’re not even considered a single animal. They’re a colony of organisms called zooids. Each of these zooids works hand in hand to keep the bluebottle alive in water and help sting you.

Some tips to keep in mind when going to Durban this year:

Don’t walk barefoot on the beach. Don’t kill the creatures as their aim isn’t to be harmful.

One very important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t urinate on the bluebottle sting as this will usually make the pain worse. If you don’t have any antihistamine medication close by, see if you can find an aloe lead and rub that over the sting.

Image credit: News.com.au