Overview

• Five holidaymakers have been stung by Portuguese man o’ war on beaches including Costa del Sol, San Juan and Salinas, all requiring medical attention
• Authorities have kept affected beaches open but increased monitoring and patrols while issuing coastal safety warnings
• Experts link the surge in sightings to rising sea temperatures, shifting ocean currents and heavier summer bathing activity
• The UK Foreign Office urges travellers to call 112 for emergency services and the NHS advises rinsing stings with seawater, carefully removing tentacles, soaking in warm water and taking painkillers
• Portuguese man o’ war are colonial organisms often mistaken for jellyfish with venomous tentacles up to 30 metres long that can still sting when washed ashore