Scorpion Envenomations in Algeria

Abstract

CONTEXT: Due to its climatic and ecological characteristics, Algeria shelters a diverse scorpion fauna and scorpion envenomations represent an actual public health issue. AIMS: The purpose of this retrospective study was to bring word on the trend, spatial distribution, and spatial clustering of scorpion envenomations in Algeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Moran's I statistic was used to analyse the global spatial autocorrelation and the first order Queen's contiguity rule was used to specify the spatial neighborhood relationship. RESULTS: A total of 1,274,154 scorpion sting accidents including 2347 deaths have been recorded from 1991 to 2020. In 2019, the incidence was 116.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and only 3 of Algeria's 48 provinces were free of scorpion sting accidents. 47% of sting cases occurred in the Sahara, 46% in the high plateaus and 7% in the Tell and all southern provinces had an incidence varying between 162 and 827 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The incidence rates exhibited spatial autocorrelation globally; all Moran index values ranged between 0.49 and 0.66 and all z-scores were greater than the critical value at 0.05 level of significance. The most significant hot spots were located in the Sahara and the high plateaus and the most significant cold spots were located in the tell. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to reframe the set objectives and the actions to be carried out taking into account spatial clustering, seasonality, and species spatial distribution. A good management can be achieved by active public participation at all levels of planning, decision-making, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.