More than 3,500 people were stung by jellyfish in the Australian state of Queensland over the weekend.

Surf Life Saving Queensland said a "whopping" 3,595 people were stung by the bluebottle on the beaches of the northern state.

The lifeguard group said over 9,300 people have been stung this year – with nine people hospitalised.

The group urged swimmers to, “take caution when entering the water” and “always ask lifesavers and lifeguards for localised conditions.”

According to the Australian Museum, between 10,000 and 30,000 stings are usually reported along the country's east coast each year.

There have been no fatalities so far.

For most people the stings are harmless – albeit painful. However, they can cause problems for those with allergies, as well as the young and the elderly.

A number of Queensland's beaches were closed due to the jellyfish.

Anyone who is stung is urged to:

• Remove any remaining tentacles from the sting area
• Rinse the area with seawater 
• Rinse the area under hot water for 20 min, or apply an ice pack
• If pain persists, seek immediate medical attention

Lifesavers described the jellyfish on one beach as being like "a wall," and wrote on Twitter that the invasion was due to northeasterly winds.

Surf Life Saving duty officer Jeremy Sturges described the jellyfish as an "epidemic", telling Australian media: "I have never seen anything like this – ever."

Meanwhile, some 19 people have been hospitalised after suffering stings from the more dangerous Irukandji jellyfish – more than double the ten year average.

The total includes eight people flown by rescue helicopter from Fraser Island off south-east Queensland in the past two weeks.