Scorpion Surge in Brazilian Cities: Stings Spike 250%, Climate and Urbanization Blamed
Brazil faces a growing public health crisis as scorpion stings surged 250% from 2014 to 2023, with 1.1 million incidents reported, The Guardian reported. Researchers warn rapid urbanization and climate change are fueling the invasion, with 200,000 stings and 133 deaths projected for 2024 alone.
Favelas and poor waste management create ideal habitats—sewers, rubble, and construction debris—where scorpions find shelter, warmth, and cockroach prey.
Warmer, wetter weather extends their breeding seasons. Some species survive 400 days without food and reproduce asexually.
Children and the elderly face the highest risk, with 0.1% of stings proving fatal. Symptoms include severe pain, swelling, and nausea.
Similar rises in “scorpionism” plague Paraguay, Bolivia, and Mexico. Researchers stress scorpions’ ecological role in pest control but call for urgent action to curb urban infestations.
