Swimmers at a Florida Panhandle beach are dealing with painful rashes from stinging jellyfish larvae, more commonly known as “sea lice”.
Advertisement
According to Parks and Recreation officials for Palm Beach County, an area highly affected by sea lice, “Some people do experience a “prickling” sensation while in the water, though itching usually starts several hours after being in the water and lasts 2-4 days, but can last as long as two weeks!” according to Parks and Recreation officials for Palm Beach County, an area highly affected by sea lice.
Sea lice are no bigger than a speck of ground pepper, according to the Florida DOH, and are actually the tiny larvae of adult jellyfish.
Sea lice have no brains and no blood, and they are made of 99 percent water, but these little summer buggers can still sting. The rash is often raised, with bumps or blisters that can be very red and extremely itchy.
April to July are the most common months for the larvae to appear, and some years are worse than others. Children are particularly prone to more severe outbreaks, especially if they have allergies or are immune-compromised. Sea lice are virtually impossible to see underwater, making them hard to track. They are known to get stuck underneath bathing suits and irritate the skin, causing a rash known as seabather’s eruption.
The warnings were sighted through purple flags placed all across the Santa Rosa Beach area.
Advertisement
Beaches along the Florida coastline are starting to report cases of seabather’s eruption this year, but it’s too early to tell how widespread the infestation could be. Your natural reaction may be to flush the affected area with cold water, but don’t – hot water is the key. Because they sting like jellyfish, sunbathers eruption can be treated just like a jellyfish sting. Officials say that victims of sea lice should wash the area with hot water or rub the area with sand or the edge of a credit card. Therefore, they sting – not bite.
