On October 1, 2023, in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil, a three-year-old girl died after being stung by a scorpion.
The incident occurred when the arachnid entered her bed, crawled under her clothes, and repeatedly stung her on September 25, leading to her cardiac arrest.
The young victim, Maria Fernanda Brito da Silva, was taken to the Hospital Regional de Mato Grosso do Sul in Campo Grande for treatment. Upon arrival, she was administered anti-venom antibody therapy. However, despite medical intervention, the child died in an intensive care unit six days after the stings.
Vanessa Ramirez da Silva, the toddler’s mother, described the chilling moment she discovered the scorpion on her daughter. She says, “The image will stay in my head forever.” Ramirez da Silva managed to remove the scorpion, but not before it landed on her shirt. After disposing of the arachnid, she urgently called for help as her daughter began to show severe symptoms, including vomiting.
The grandmother, Cleide Cristina Ramirez, expressed her grief over the incident. She highlighted, “My daughter is a fighter, a single mother; she gives her life for her children.”
Scorpions are not an uncommon threat in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Data from the health department indicates that over 3,000 scorpion-related cases have been reported in the region this year alone. The Tityus Serrulatus, commonly known as Brazil’s yellow scorpion, is recognized as one of the most hazardous scorpions in South America.
Residents are urged to be vigilant and take suitable precautions to safeguard their homes and families from these threats.