Morocco Launches Annual Campaign to Combat Deadly Scorpion Stings

This year, an average of 30,000 Moroccans have been victims of scorpion stings and snake bites. The Minister of Health therefore launched a National Campaign to Fight this scourge this Monday, July 2, 2019.

This campaign has reduced death from stings from 2.37% in 1999 to 0.18% in 2018. In addition, it has reduced deaths from snake bites from 8.9% in 2011 to 1.7% in 2018, the Ministry states on its website, as reported by HuffPost.

For the Minister in charge, this reduction in lethality can be understood through the implementation of four main strategic axes. In this regard, he recalls, a mission has been entrusted to the National Commission for the Fight against Envenomations, created since 2013. Several measures have also been taken by the Ministerial Department to curb this scourge.

Better, 600 anti-viper serums are planned to be distributed to the various hospital facilities in the Kingdom, in addition to raising awareness among the population and training on first aid, particularly in schools and rural areas, not to mention partnership agreements with the various sectors concerned.

Each year, nearly 170 people die from various intoxications, including 50 from scorpion stings and 8 from snake bites, with 70% of these attacks at home, the same media recalls.