Researchers warned in a paper that Scorpion is "take over" Brazilian cities, which said rapid urbanization and climate breakdown are driving the number of people staughed.

More than 1.1 million stings were reported between 2014 and 2023, according to Brazil's Notification Disease Information System. According to a study published in the Journal of Public Health, sting reports increased by 155% from 2014 to 2023.

The rise in cases is driven by rapid, unplanned urbanization - According to this study, for example, slums are characterized by high-density shells and poor waste disposal. Although urban areas are occupying wild habitats where scorpions already live, they are also creating new environments to thrive.

“Brazil’s urbanization has profoundly reshapes the ecosystem,” said Manuela Berto Pucca, assistant professor at São Paulo State University. “Cities unintentionally provide everything a scorpion needs: ample shelter (in walls, gutters, rubble and debris of buildings), consistent warmth and a reliable food supply in the form of cockroaches and other urban invertebrates.”

They especially like the warm sewers year-round, with few predators and provide plenty of food, especially cockroaches. Some scorpions can survive for up to 400 days without food and can reproduce without mating, making it difficult to eliminate them.

The hotter summers, rainfall and drought periods also help them thrive as they adapt to warm and humid environments.

Interim data for 2024 show that scorpions caused nearly 200,000 sint stings and 133 deaths. In total, researchers predict that between 2025 and 2033, new cases are expected to be 2 million. "The real scale of this problem may be much larger than recorded statistics suggest," the researchers said, as many people choose to treat themselves at home or give up treatment.

“I have been working in places where scorpions sting every day, especially in poor and crowded areas,” Puka said. “These numbers show us that in the future, the problems will be bigger than they are now.”

Researchers say 0.1% of reported stings lead to death, with children and the elderly being the most vulnerable. Healthy people usually recover completely, but may experience pain and discomfort for a few days. Symptoms include pain, burning, swelling, redness, tingling and nausea.

Previous studies that modeled the distribution of scorpions in Brazil have shown that due to the warmer and humid climate, their habitat has expanded to urban areas.

Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Mexico, Guyana and Venezuela witnessed the “particularly shocking medical conditions due to stinging) Researchers for the new study said that in recent decades, it has gradually developed into a serious public health crisis. In Europe, it is believed that although there is no comprehensive study on population trends, there are 35 species of native scorpions.

Researchers say prevention is key. "Scorpions thrive in a messy, wet environment. Keep the area clean, seal cracks in the walls, use screens on gutters, and always check shoes, towels and clothes before use," Pucca said.

"These numbers are much higher than I expected, and in a sense it's a significant increase," said Dr. Manuela González-Suárez, an ecologist at the University of Reading, who was not involved in the study. But, she said awareness of the problem could lead to more reports, too.

González-Suárez added that the study should not be overly shocked: "Many people who are stung have no serious or fatal reactions, and the mortality rate is relatively low compared to, for example, due to road accidents or violent crimes."

Brazil's health system provides free treatment for scorpion stings, and anti-toxic agents are available in certain hospitals and emergency centers. "If someone is stinged, don't wait for the symptoms to worsen - go to the nearest medical facility right away."

"Everyone is vulnerable, especially the kids, because there is only one small sting that can kill a kid," she said.

Professor Nibedita Ray-Bennett, president of the University of Leicester, said the study highlights the “impulsive need for action”.

One of the most common misunderstandings about scorpions is that they are our enemies, Puka said. "They are not. These animals act defensively rather than offensively. They are part of the natural world and play an important ecological role, from controlling pest populations to maintaining biodiversity."

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