Morocco Battles Deadly Scorpion Stings: 44 Fatalities in 2019, Children Most at Risk

26,819 scorpion stings were recorded in 41 Moroccan provinces in 2019, of which 44 were fatal, according to CAPM statistics. Similarly, the center indicates that 70% of the poisoning cases received are cases of scorpion stings.

"Since 2001, the Ministry of Health has put in place a national strategy to fight this scourge, the main objective of which is to reduce the number of cases and deaths. For example, we have an information system that centralizes data on stings, deaths and other information from all over Morocco. This system has allowed us to map scorpion envenomations," explains Dr. Rhizlane Oufir, scorpion specialist and coordinator of the national strategy on the matter at CAPM, reports Le360.

"There are about fifty species of scorpion in Morocco, of which 20 are venomous," adds Rhizlaine Oufir, stressing that the center alone could not succeed in raising awareness among populations in high-risk areas. She calls on NGOs to play their role, especially since children are the most vulnerable to scorpion stings.

"Of the 44 deaths in 2019, we only had 2 or 3 adults. That’s why we signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education in 2006 to raise awareness among the youngest directly in schools by distributing posters and showing them the gestures to adopt in case of a bite. It should also be known that 70% of bites occur inside the home," she says.

The cities most exposed to scorpion stings are Rhamna, Essaouira, Kelaat Sraghna in the Marrakech-Safi region. The regions of Beni Mellal-Khénifra, the Souss Massa region towards Tiznit and Taroudant and the Draâ-Tafilalet region, especially the cities of Ouarzazate and Zagora, are also known scorpion hotspots. "These are the regions we target through awareness campaigns and especially by training health personnel in hospitals and health centers. It should also be known that most scorpion stings occur between May and September," concludes Dr. Oufir.