Urbanization and scorpion stings in Manaus, the largest metropolis in the Brazilian Amazon

This study analyzed a total of 260 confirmed scorpion stings reported in the city of Manaus, in the Brazilian Amazon, from 1990 to 2020. Cases were mapped according to the GPS location of their occurrence and plotted on a satellite image of the city. The stings generally occurred close to green areas, and the hotspots of stings moved north as city grew into that direction over time. Spatial analysis shows that scorpion stings mostly occur in poor, recently urbanized areas. The rapid and unplanned urbanization of originally forested areas, without offering adequate infrastructure and services, creates favorable conditions for infestation by scorpions and increases the risk of scorpion stings. •In the Brazilian Amazon scorpion stings predominate in urban areas.•Tityus metuendus is the main agent of scorpion envenomings in Manaus.•Scorpion stings were reported mostly in recent poor urbanized areas.•Deforestation and disorganized urbanization create an environment conducive to scorpions' reproduction.