Rainy season increases the possibility of finding scorpions in urban areas Aracaju recorded 423 reports of accidents with venomous animals between January and July 2026. The data was released this Monday (13) by the Municipal Health Department (SMS), which reinforced the alert for care at home. According to the SMS, of this total, scorpions represent the vast majority of incidents, being responsible for 371 stings in the first seven months of this year alone. In previous years, numbers show that the problem is frequent in the capital: there were 953 cases in 2025 and 1,193 in 2024. In total, during the period, the city has already recorded more than 2,300 scorpion attacks. ? Click here to follow the g1 SE channel on WhatsApp Below, g1 has gathered guidance from the Zoonoses Surveillance Unit (UVZ) on what to do in the event of an accident, how to prevent it and where to ask for help. I was stung, now what? Scorpion Filipe Zampoli/File If you or a family member is stung by a scorpion or other venomous animal, the advice is to act quickly: Seek immediate care: look for an emergency care unit. In Aracaju, the references for these cases are the Hospital Fernando Franco (in Conjunto Augusto Franco) or the Hospital Dr. Nestor Piva (in Bairro 18 do Forte). Identify the animal: If possible and safe, take a photo or take the scorpion itself to the hospital. This helps the medical team identify the species faster and apply the correct antiscorpion serum. What not to do: Don't use regular insecticides to try to kill scorpions en masse. According to the SMS, the spray poison has low effectiveness against them and can cause the animals to become dislodged and spread, increasing the risk of new accidents. How to avoid scorpions at home? Scorpions tend to hide in dark, little-traveled places, such as drawers, boxes, shoes, under mattresses and in debris. UVZ endemic disease supervisor, José Bonfim Oliveira, warns that control is directly related to cleaning, as garbage attracts the scorpion's main food: cockroaches. Practical prevention measures: Always keep yards clean Avoid the accumulation of debris, wood, bricks and construction materials Seal drains, grease traps and storm drains Check clothes and shoes before putting them on Take extra care with children, preventing them from messing around in dark places or with stored objects. Where to ask for help The appearance of scorpions or other venomous animals in homes or public areas in Aracaju must be reported to the Zoonosis Surveillance Unit. Contact can be made through the Health Ombudsman's Office by telephone: 0800 729 3534 and (79) 3711-5011.