KARACHI, July 3: As many as 2,500 bluebottle-bite cases have been reported during the last three months at Karachi beaches. Of them, 1,400 patients were treated at the emergency response centres set up by the city government.

An official told the Online news agency that at least 140 bluebottle-bite cases were being reported daily at these centres.

Because of the sizzling hot weather in the city, a large number of people visit beaches, which is the main reason for the arrival of bluebottles, or jellyfish, whose bite causes serious pain in the abdominal area.

"The city government has set up 10 emergency response centres on the beaches to provide medical treatment to the victims of bluebottles. A dispensary is established on Hawkesbay while other camps are set up at Neelam Point, Paradise Point, Sunehra Beach, Cape Monz, etc,” the official said.

So far, more than 1,400 bluebottle bite cases have been registered at these centres, where the affected persons were given medical treatment. From May to July more than 2,500 bluebottle bite cases were reported at the beaches, he added. However, only 1,400 person were treated at the response centre as many victims preferred private treatment.

The Civil Defence Department of the city government has advised the visitors of beaches to be careful about blue bottle and in case of bites the affected person be sent to these centres instead of getting treatment from quacks.