They have banned access to two popular beaches in Chile due to the presence of the dangerous Portuguese frigate

During this weekend, the Seremi (Regional Ministerial Secretariat) of Health in the Coquimbo region, located just over 450 kilometers north of the capital Santiago, ordered the closure and prohibition of the entry of people to two important beaches in the region, Peñuelas and La Herradura, this in the presence of Portuguese frigates (Physalia physalis), a species usually found on the high seas in all warm waters of the planet, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Likewise, through its social networks, the institution communicated that The measure came into effect on Thursday, February 9. However, this ban will be temporary. and it will be assessed as the situation in the region is monitored. Likewise, Peñuelas and La Herradura, located in the town of Coquimbo, as well as Cuatro Esquinas beach, in the neighboring town of La Serena, are seaside resorts where Chilean and foreign tourists flock during the summer months. The pleasant temperatures and warmer waters compared to the beaches of the central zone of Chile reinforce its popularity among vacationers.

“The beginning of the temporary ban on swimming and leisure activities on the beaches of the municipality of Coquimbo: Peñuelas and La Herradura, and for the municipality of La Serena: Cuatro Esquinas beach due to the presence of a Portuguese frigate”, indicated the health authorities of the region on their official Twitter account.

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The Seremi also explained that “the aforementioned species secretes a neurotoxin which, when in contact with people, can cause irritation and possibly cause cardio-respiratory collapse simple contact with living or dead species, complete or with parts of them”. Likewise, it should be mentioned that on the day of Saturday, February 11, 15 specimens of Portuguese frigatebirds were spotted on the beaches of Coquimbo and La Serena.

The species, for its part, belongs to the group of Cnidaria, of which the traditional jellyfish are also a part, and due to its appearance it is easily mistaken for one. But this is not the case.

In the same vein, the World Health Organization (WHO) has included the Portuguese frigate in the list of “dangerous species” for human health and poisonous invertebrates in the Recreational Aquatic Safety Guidelines.

On the other hand, the Port Authority and the Coquimbo Health Seremi continue to monitor the beaches with a view to the discovery of the same species in other municipalities located in the south of the region: The Vilos, Cinnamon and Pichidanguiwhich made it necessary to ban bathing in the waters for residents and holidaymakers, given the risk of contact with the Portuguese frigate.

Paola Salasan official from the health department of Coquimbo, explained that “physical contact with one of these specimens not only generates skin symptoms, but also other complications, due to the presence of toxins”.

As for the first, the Portuguese Frigatebird’s filaments cling to the skin, causing erosion and being able to paralyze even smaller people. On the other hand, the most delicate thing is that it passes through enzymes and proteins, which generate dangerous toxins, a poison that “can go to the heart and produce a cardiotoxic effect in people. An arrhythmia could develop and block the heart rhythm conduction system.” In more extreme cases, even cause death.

Until yesterday, hospitals in the region had alerted Health Seremi of three injured, one in Los Vilos and two in Pichidangui, for which the authority called for caution.

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