Characterization and prediction of accidents with africanized bees in Roraima, Brazil

Abstract

In recent years, the number of accidents involving Apis mellifera Africanized bees has increased in Roraima, and has become a public health problem. Beekeepers are the professionals responsible for handling these insects properly. The objective was to characterize the accidents involving Africanized bees, predict these events using the acquired data, and quantify the vulnerability of beekeepers. Data on accidents occurring between 2007-2019 were collected from the DATASUS platform. A socio-epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the beekeepers of the central region of the state. A total of 976 accidents were reported on the DATASUS platform during the period. The analyses showed an expected increase in the number of cases for the next few years. The beekeepers interviewed are not part of the victims. The increase in the number of accidents occurs in the period of increased honey production, due to population growth and swarming. This research will help to warn people about the danger of accidents and help in making decisions about the risk areas in Roraima.