Some poisonous creatures in Thailand

In Thailand, it is much more dangerous to travel by scooter than to walk in the wild. This country being a tropical country, you have to expect from time to time to make unexpected encounters... of course, as always, the unknown tends to be frightening. So let's try to do a little tour of these most common bugs, the ones closest to us... and what to do, how to do in case of meeting or contact...

There are not that many of them...

Spiders in Thailand are poisonous, but the venom is so mild that it is comparable to the sting of a bee or wasp. The bite is painful but harmless, however some people may develop an allergic reaction. The bite must therefore be immediately disinfected.

The Gecko is a reptile that belongs to the family of "Gekkonidae".

The term "Gecko" includes about 830 species of lizards.

This reptile is very common throughout Southeast Asia. In addition to Thailand, it is found in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, southern China, the Philippines and Indonesia. It has also been introduced in the United States and Martinique.

The name "Gecko" comes from the Malay word "Gekoq" which is an onomatopoeia corresponding to the cry of an Indonesian Gecko.

The mosquito develops from an aquatic larva before metamorphosing to its adult phase in the air.

The aquatic larval phase helps to explain the high presence of mosquitoes near rivers, ponds and marshes.

In most mosquito species, the larvae feed on microscopic plankton algae; rare species have a predatory larva that feeds on other insect larvae.

Once adult, the mosquito feeds exclusively on nectar from various flowers. Contrary to popular belief, it does not feed on blood.

Mosquito bites are carried out only by a fertilized female, and are not intended for feeding, but for maturing eggs before laying.
It should be noted that some rare species of mosquitoes do not need blood for maturation, and therefore do not bite.

A wide variety of behaviours can be observed depending on the species. Some will attack humans, others cattle, birds or reptiles.
It is often said that mosquitoes bite only at night, in fact there are daytime species, other nocturnal or twilight species.

The idea that mosquitoes only bite at night probably comes from the fact that the most widespread species in Europe belong to the genera Culex and Aedes, which have nocturnal mores.

• malaria

It occurs in Thailand only in very limited areas, forests and borders.

The vast majority of the country, composed of plains and rice fields, is preserved.
In malaria-affected areas, there is a risk of transmission only at night.

See also:
Malaria in Thailand, should you take an antimalarial treatment?
Artemisia Annua, a natural antimalarial treatment

• Dengue

A dengue fever epidemic is currently raging throughout the country, particularly in the north and centre.

The disease is spread by the bite of a mosquito that is active during the day, so the usual protective measures (long clothing, mosquito repellent products for use on the skin and clothing, electric diffusers) should be followed.

As dengue fever can take a potentially serious form, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor in case of fever (taking aspirin is not recommended).

There is a natural way to heal yourself see our articles:

Dengue fever can be treated with papaya leaf juice!

Papaya and its fruit papaya, use and medicinal property

Dengue Fever

• Chikungunya

Viral disease transmitted by the bites of Aedes mosquitoes that bites during the day.

It is responsible for a high fever accompanied by severe joint pain (in Swahili: chikungunya= "walking bent over").

There is no vaccination or specific treatment.
However, a doctor must be consulted.

Only protective measures against mosquito bites can protect the traveller.
Papaya leaf juice could help according to a Mauritian herbalist, see link above.

Chickungunya Fever

• Japanese Eencephaltitis

This disease, which only exists in Asia, is transmitted by mosquitoes in rural areas.
Fortunately, very few cases are reported in Thailand, but the risk is present.

The Japanese encephalitis virus is transmitted by the bite of the mosquito Culex tritaenioriorhynchusa, a mosquito that only bites in the evening (at nightfall and all night).

Her bite is painful and therefore does not go unnoticed.

Cities are generally spared and transmission of the disease is highest in rural areas where mosquitoes abound, especially during rainy or monsoon periods.

• zika

It is the "fashionable" disease, very mediatized, but Zika has existed for years in Thailand and generally only causes the symptoms of a small flu.

We must be careful with the alarming figures given by the press, making the difference, for example, between pregnant women who "would be contaminated" by the Zika virus and those very rare, who give birth to a microcephalic baby because of the zika.

To date, the only country that has experienced an incredible increase in microcephaly that would be "due auzika" is Brazil.
The cases of microcephalitis discovered in the USA and Europe come from people who have contracted the disease in South America, but the media strangely refrain from saying which South American country it is, but since there was only one affected country, Brazil, it is very likely that these cases also come from there.

And the areas where there has been a very high number of microcephalus, according to Brazilian doctors, are areas where an insecticide has been added to tap water.

But according to the WHO, this is a coincidence, because this insecticide, which is to my knowledge the only insecticide given to drink to an entire population, is harmless.

The WHO, which introduced this insecticide into the daily drinking water of these Brazilians, says that pyriproxyfen only blocks the development of mosquito larvae, not human fetuses....

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A JELLYFISH BITE ?

Contact with his jellyfish causes acute pain and severe redness, then swelling and blisters. If you are a victim, wash the wounds immediately with salt water - or even better with vinegar water. But especially not with fresh water or even alcohol. It would make the pain worse. 

It is the monsoon season in Thailand, which is why these creatures appear on the beach. The island's rescuers are prepared for the actions to be taken if you are stung.

Otherwise, spread sand on the skin and after about 10-15 minutes scratch gently (e. g. credit card). Shaving foam has also proven its worth in cleaning a jellyfish bite. Then, it is necessary to cool the affected area with ice and eventually go to the hospital.

In theory, except for allergies or other health problems leading to complications, jellyfish bites are not life-threatening. In weakened people or people with allergies, however, the danger is real and can lead to allergic shock, which requires immediate treatment in a hospital.

The Thai Ministry of Marine warned against jellyfish attacks after a highly toxic species was found off Koh Phi Phi Phi in Krabi province.

Cubomedosa is not common in Thai waters. Jellyfish are known for their powerful venom. Vinegar is the best solution to reduce the pain caused by a jellyfish before the victim is sent to hospital.

Water should not be used, as it increases pain, and green plants often found near beaches would also have calming effects.

The cubomedosa is a very dangerous species of invertebrates.

Well named with a cube shaped body structure and long dragging tentacles, several species of jellyfish box are extremely poisonous, including Carukia barnesi, Malo kingi and Chironex Fleckeri.

The Cubomeduse is capable of speeds of up to 1.5 to 2 metres per second, or about 4 knots (7.4 km / h, 4.6 mi / h), which is faster than most humans who can swim. The average human sprint speed is 1.64 metres per second.

Its body structure is also complex: it has a well-designed nervous system that allows it to move quickly, a structure similar to that of a brain, and twenty-four eyes that can detect the difference between light and darkness.

Unlike most jellyfish, the Cubomeduse is skilled enough to navigate around obstacles and swim quickly to a desired location. It can grow to 10 feet in length, due to its long tentacles, and can weigh up to 4.5 pounds.

Habitat: In coastal areas, mainly in coral reefs.

This specimen can be found near corals and on rocky coasts.

Divers and snorkellers should be particularly careful.

This fish is very aggressive. A sting from one of its needles causes immediate and extreme pain, and the infected area begins to swell immediately!

The Stone Fish (Synanceia verrucosa), is the most poisonous fish in the world. It lives in the shallow warm waters of the seas of the Indo-Pacific region. Stomach and stocky, it measures up to 45 cm, and is often found on corals, rocks or buried in the sand. It feeds on small fish and shrimp by opening its mouth at lightning speed (another record!). Its skin secretes mucus that can attach algae, coral debris or sand, allowing it to blend into its environment.

A strange fish that makes the swimmer's misfortune

This particularity, combined with almost total immobility, makes this fish a master of camouflage! It also has a formidable defense system: 13 erectile spines, from 3 to 5 cm, connected to venom glands as well as venomous spines on the pelvic and anal fins. This venom, very powerful, remains toxic 48 hours after the death of the fish, the latter being able to survive 24 hours out of the water.

Generally, the victims are swimmers who set foot on the animal. Hand poisonings are rarer (fish inadvertently touched, picked up out of curiosity...). The venom is expelled when the thorn penetrates the victim's skin.

Among marine snakes, the fatal dose of venom from sea cobra (Laticauda colubrina), also known as common striped knitwear, is 1.5 mg. As the reptile produces 10 to 15 mg of venom, each bite can kill up to ten people, making it potentially one of the deadliest creatures in the world.

Sea snakes are also called flat-tailed snakes. Indeed, adaptation to marine life is manifested by the lateral flattening of the tail.

This feature makes swimming easier.

The nostrils and the rostral notch are closed by special devices.

The lungs are very elongated and provide a large air reserve for prolonged immersion.

These snakes are part of the subfamily Hydrophiinae. They feed almost exclusively on fish.

These snakes have a more toxic venom than terrestrial species, but they only bite humans in exceptional cases.

The sea cobra can measure a maximum of 1.50 m and has a light blue colour with black stripes.
Its distribution is quite wide: New Guinea, Pacific Islands, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and Japan.

Fortunately for most swimmers and divers, it is not very aggressive, and its hooks are placed far back.

Striped knitwear spends most of its time roaming the seabed and under the cracks of coral, in search of eels and other small fish. Most of the human victims are fishermen, bitten as they disentangle snakes from their nets or sort their catches.

Laticauda colubrina spends a lot of time underwater, surfacing only briefly to breathe. He goes ashore to digest his food, moult, mate and lay eggs.

On land, it also ensures its thermoregulation.

It is the only oviparous Hydrophiina. Before mating, thousands of individuals gather on sandy islets in winter. Females lay their eggs in the wet sand in summer.

Il y a un certain nombre de bestioles qui peuvent occasionner un certain danger: