On Thursday morning, an 8-month-old baby in Votuporanga, São Paulo, was stung by a scorpion found in the child's backpack. The child was promptly taken to a hospital for medical attention, where he was later transferred to another facility to receive necessary antivenom treatment. The incident raises awareness about the risk of scorpion stings, particularly in urban areas where such creatures may be present.

According to data from the Municipal Health Department, Votuporanga experienced a concerning number of scorpion-related incidents, with a total of 627 reported accidents in 2025, all of which did not result in fatalities. As of the reporting date in 2026, there have been 86 incidents this year, with no deaths recorded thus far. This is a notable increase compared to the previous year, where the city documented 39 scorpion accidents in January alone, compared to 54 incidents in the same month this year, indicating a rise of approximately 38% in this type of accident.

The case of the baby highlights the ongoing issue of scorpion stings in the region and underscores the importance of public awareness and preventive measures for residents. As the number of incidents continues to rise, local health authorities may need to enhance their educational campaigns about scorpion safety and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention following a sting, especially for vulnerable populations such as young children.