Abstract
We developed a dynamic forecasting model for Zika virus (ZIKV), based on real-time online search data from Google Trends (GTs). It was designed to provide Zika virus disease (ZVD) surveillance and detection for Health Departments, and predictive numbers of infection cases, which would allow them sufficient time to implement interventions. In this study, we found a strong correlation between Zika-related GTs and the cumulative numbers of reported cases (confirmed, suspected and total cases; p<0.001). Then, we used the correlation data from Zika-related online search in GTs and ZIKV epidemics between 12 February and 20 October 2016 to construct an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model (0, 1, 3) for the dynamic estimation of ZIKV outbreaks. The forecasting results indicated that the predicted data by ARIMA model, which used the online search data as the external regressor to enhance the forecasting model and assist the historical epidemic data in improving the quality of the predictions, are quite similar to the actual data during ZIKV epidemic early November 2016. Integer-valued autoregression provides a useful base predictive model for ZVD cases. This is enhanced by the incorporation of GTs data, confirming the prognostic utility of search query based surveillance. This accessible and flexible dynamic forecast model could be used in the monitoring of ZVD to provide advanced warning of future ZIKV outbreaks.
Highlights
Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted to people primarily by mosquitoes [1]
We examined the ZIKV-related Google Trends (GTs) temporally correlated with Zika virus disease (ZVD) epidemics, and developed an improved dynamic forecasting method for ZVD activity in the worldwide using an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to predict future patterns of ZIKV transmission
Our analyses used the data from 12 February to 9 November 2016 (Yearly EPI Week 6 to 45), covering 9 months of the GTs data (Fig 1 and S1 Table) and the reported ZIKV epidemic data
Summary
Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted to people primarily by mosquitoes [1]. Prior to 2015, outbreaks had occurred in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands [2, 3, 4]. In May 2015, the presence of Zika virus disease (ZVD) was confirmed in Brazil. ZIKV has subsequently reportedly been spreading throughout the Americas, with epidemics occurring in many countries [5, 6]. The World Health Organization declared ZIKV, and its suspected link to birth defects, an international public health emergency in February 2016 [7, 8]. Traditional, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0165085 January 6, 2017
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