Scorpions Are Taking Over Brazil’s Cities, Reported Stinging Events Rise By 155%
Scorpions are taking over Brazilian cities. Rapid Urbanization and climate change is causing an increase in the number of people being stung, according to research that was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.
Between 2014 and 2023, there were more than 1.1 million stings reported, a 155% increase throughout those nine years.
The research stated that the rise in scorpion stings is connected to rapid, unplanned urbanization, specifically high density housing and poor waste disposal. While it would make sense that construction would destroy scorpions’ environments, it’s also been creating new habitats for the species to flourish.
“Urbanization in Brazil has profoundly reshaped ecosystems,” said the lead researcher, Manuela Berto Pucca.
“Cities unintentionally offer everything scorpions need: plenty of shelter (in walls, drains, rubble and construction debris), consistent warmth, and a reliable food supply in the form of cockroaches and other urban invertebrates.”
Scorpion populations are famously hard to control. They can survive up to 400 days without food and reproduce without mating.
They’re also adapted to warm and humid environments, so as the summers get hotter and severe rain and drought continue, the scorpions thrive.
In 2024 alone, the data published shows that scorpions stung up to 200,000 times and caused 133 deaths. It’s projected that 2 million cases will occur between 2025 and 2033.
“The real scale of this issue is likely far greater than the recorded statistics suggest,” researchers said.
“I’ve been working in places where scorpion stings are a daily fear, especially in poor and crowded areas. The numbers showed us that in the future the problem will be bigger than it is now,” said Pucca.
The published research also said that .1% of reported stings result in death with children and elderly people being the most vulnerable. Healthy individuals typically can make a full recovery, but will likely experience pain and discomfort for several days, and other symptoms such as burning, swelling, redness, nausea, and more.
“Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Mexico, Guyana and Venezuela have witnessed a particularly alarming rise in scorpionism [the medical condition resulting from a sting] over recent decades, evolving into a significant public health crisis,” the researchers said.
“Scorpions thrive in cluttered, humid environments. Keep areas clean, seal cracks in walls, use screens on drains and always check shoes, towels and clothes before using them,” said Pucca.
“The numbers are much higher than I would expect, in the sense that this is a significant increase,” Dr Manuela González-Suárez, an ecologist at Reading University said.
“Many people who are stung do not have severe or lethal reactions and mortality rates are relatively low compared with, for example, those due to road accidents or violent crimes.”
“If someone is stung, don’t wait for symptoms to worsen – go to the nearest healthcare facility immediately,” said Professor Eliane Candiani Arantesone of the paper’s authors.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
