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Rabat – A six-year-old girl was pronounced dead after being stung by a scorpion in the Azilal province on Wednesday, leading to a reignited discussion among citizens and activists around the dangerous animals in Morocco.
The child died despite the intervention of doctors after she was taken to the Beni Mellal regional hospital, according to converging news reports.
This led the International Observatory of Human Rights in Azilal to alert authorities about the absence of anti-venom serums in the province’s health facilities, which poses a particular threat during the hot seasons when people could be more susceptible to bites or stings from deadly animals.
The Observatory also emphasized the necessity of having ambulances available in the region in order to take the injured to nearby medical facilities.
Additionally, they advocated for the creation of educational campaigns on the dangers posed by deadly insects and how to avoid and treat their bites.
The incident comes right after the rescue of a four-year old girl from a venomous snakebite last week.
On the evening of July 3, an English tourist was also stung by a poisonous scorpion in the northern suburb of Marrakech.
The 19-year-old tourist was reportedly lying in a hotel room when she screamed from the pain left by the sting of the scorpion that had infiltrated her bed.
The incident raised a lot of concern while an investigation was opened into its surrounding circumstances.
The Moroccan Ministry of Health issued a warning in 2021 about the risk of getting stung by a snake or a scorpion in the summer.
In a news release, the ministry made a number of suggestions and cautioned parents about the possibility of snakebite and scorpion stings, especially for young children.
The ministry recognized that there had been an upsurge in cases of snake and scorpion bites in some locations, particularly in rural areas.
It advised against sitting on grassy or rock-covered areas, as well as warned residents of some areas against putting their hands in trenches.
Additionally, the ministry requested that residents and citizens wear shoes and protective clothing while outside.
The further statement urged people not to gather around firewood at night.
Weeding is also required in the vicinity of residential areas to stop the spread of snakes and scorpions.
In the event of a snake bite or scorpion sting, the ministry advised residents to go to the closest hospital or emergency department for care.
“Any delay has negative consequences and reduces the effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention”, the ministry warned.
Read also: Morocco Raises Alert Against Scorpion Stings, Snakes Bites
