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. 2016 Oct 14:38:e2016044.
doi: 10.4178/epih.e2016044. eCollection 2016.

Forecasting and prediction of scorpion sting cases in Biskra province, Algeria, using a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model

Schehrazad Selmane  1 , Mohamed L'Hadj  2
Affiliations

Forecasting and prediction of scorpion sting cases in Biskra province, Algeria, using a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model

Schehrazad Selmane et al. Epidemiol Health. .

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this study were to highlight some epidemiological aspects of scorpion envenomations, to analyse and interpret the available data for Biskra province, Algeria, and to develop a forecasting model for scorpion sting cases in Biskra province, which records the highest number of scorpion stings in Algeria.

Methods: In addition to analysing the epidemiological profile of scorpion stings that occurred throughout the year 2013, we used the Box-Jenkins approach to fit a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model to the monthly recorded scorpion sting cases in Biskra from 2000 to 2012.

Results: The epidemiological analysis revealed that scorpion stings were reported continuously throughout the year, with peaks in the summer months. The most affected age group was 15 to 49 years old, with a male predominance. The most prone human body areas were the upper and lower limbs. The majority of cases (95.9%) were classified as mild envenomations. The time series analysis showed that a (5,1,0)×(0,1,1)12 SARIMA model offered the best fit to the scorpion sting surveillance data. This model was used to predict scorpion sting cases for the year 2013, and the fitted data showed considerable agreement with the actual data.

Conclusions: SARIMA models are useful for monitoring scorpion sting cases, and provide an estimate of the variability to be expected in future scorpion sting cases. This knowledge is helpful in predicting whether an unusual situation is developing or not, and could therefore assist decision-makers in strengthening the province's prevention and control measures and in initiating rapid response measures.

Keywords: Algeria; Biskra; Epidemiology; Forecasting; Scorpion stings; Time series.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare for this study.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Yearly number of recorded scorpion sting cases and lethality in Biskra province.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(A) Seasonal average and (B) Box plot with monthly average of recorded scorpion sting cases in Biskra province in the period 2000-2013. 1Correspond to outliers.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Geographical distribution of the incidence of scorpion stings in Biskra province.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
(A) Recorded number of scorpion sting cases between 2000 and 2012 and the number of cases estimated by the (5,1,0) × (0,1,1)12 seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model. (B) The predicted and actual number of scorpion sting cases for the year 2013.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Time series of monthly recorded scorpion sting cases with monthly average temperatures (Tem) and monthly average relative humidity (RH) values in Biskra province, 2000-2013.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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