Purple flags are flying along Brevard County's beaches because of Portuguese man o' war washing onshore.

  • 300-500 Man o' War washed up daily in the past 2 days
  • Purple flags flying along Brevard County's beaches
  • More than 70 stings treated

Brevard County Ocean Rescue says they've treated more than 70 stings in the past two days. Two people had to be taken to the hospital because the stings were so bad.

Lifeguards say changing currents, wind and storms are bring up the creatures. 

Ocean Rescue says 300 to 500 man o' war have washed up daily in the past two days, ranging from small ones to ones bigger than a human hand.

If you are stung by a man o' war, you're asked to go to a lifeguard station immediately.

“In a worst case scenario, you can have an allergic reaction, which could cause anything from swelling all the way up to an airway obstruction,” said Chief Eisen Witcher with Brevard County Ocean Rescue.

 Lifeguards say the purple flags, which indicate dangerous sea creatures at the beaches, will continue to fly for at least the next several days.

What is a Portuguese man o' war?

Information From NOAA.

The man o' war is a kind of siphonophore, closely related to the jellyfish.

The creature has a balloon-like body resembling an 18th century Portuguese warship (hence the name). It's propelled by winds and ocean currents alone, simply floating along in colonies of genetically identical men o' war. You can see thousands floating in their colonies along the surface in warm waters.

In the water, you will see the balloon like float in colors of blue, violet or pink up to six inches above the waterline.

Below the surface, the creature has tentacles and polyps that grow an average 30 feet, extending out as much as 100 feet. 

The tentacles have venom, which is used to paralyze and kill small sea creatures. While painful for humans, they are rarely deadly. 

Man o' war can deliver a sting weeks after washing up on shore.