Brazil’s cities are facing an unexpected public health crisis: scorpions. Researchers have warned that the arachnids are “taking over” urban environments, with more than 1.1 million stings reported between 2014 and 2023, a staggering 250% increase over the last decade.
Published in Frontiers in Public Health, a new study attributes this surge to rapid, unplanned urbanisation combined with the escalating effects of climate change. Makeshift housing in favelas, poor waste management, and crumbling infrastructure have created ideal breeding grounds for scorpions, while hotter temperatures and erratic weather patterns have supercharged their survival.
“Urbanisation in Brazil has profoundly reshaped ecosystems,” said lead researcher Manuela Berto Pucca, an assistant professor at São Paulo State University. “Cities unintentionally offer everything scorpions need: shelter in walls, drains, and debris; warmth; and an all-you-can-eat buffet of cockroaches.”
Sewers are a particularly favored habitat, warm, dark, predator-free, and brimming with food. Many scorpion species are astonishingly resilient: some can survive over a year without eating and even reproduce asexually, making traditional pest control methods largely ineffective.
Provisional data for 2024 already indicates nearly 200,000 stings and 133 deaths. Researchers project an eye-watering 2 million new cases between 2025 and 2033. They caution that the actual number may be much higher, as many victims self-treat or avoid medical care altogether.
“I’ve been working in places where scorpion stings are a daily fear, especially in poor and crowded areas,” Pucca noted. “The numbers showed us that in the future the problem will be bigger than it is now.”
Though only about 0.1% of reported stings result in death, children and the elderly are especially vulnerable. For most healthy adults, the sting causes intense pain, burning, swelling, tingling, and nausea, with recovery typically taking several days.
Brazil isn’t alone in facing this creeping threat. Countries like Paraguay, Bolivia, Mexico, Guyana, and Venezuela have also seen rising cases of “scorpionism”—the medical condition caused by a scorpion sting. The study warns that, if unchecked, the trend could become a wider regional health crisis.
Experts emphasize that prevention is key. “Scorpions thrive in cluttered, humid environments. Keep areas clean, seal cracks, cover drains, and always check shoes, towels, and clothes before use,” Pucca advised.
Dr. Manuela González-Suárez, an ecologist at the University of Reading who was not involved in the study, said the statistics were surprising but may partly reflect improved awareness and reporting. She cautioned against panic, noting that mortality remains low compared to other causes of death.
Brazil’s health system provides free treatment for stings, including antivenom at select hospitals and emergency centers. “If someone is stung, don’t wait for symptoms to worsen – go to the nearest healthcare facility immediately,” urged Professor Eliane Candiani Arantes from the University of São Paulo.
Despite the panic-inducing headlines, Pucca offered a reminder of ecological balance. “Scorpions are not our enemies. They act defensively, not offensively. They play vital roles in controlling pests and maintaining biodiversity.”
Still, experts like Professor Nibedita Ray-Bennett of the Avoidable Deaths Network stress that the research reveals “the urgent need for action.” As climate change and chaotic urbanisation continue reshaping Latin America’s landscapes, the question is no longer if scorpions will thrive, but how humans will adapt.
