A Mathematical Model with Quarantine States for the Dynamics of Ebola Virus Disease in Human Populations

作者:Ngwa Gideon A; Teboh Ewungkem Miranda I
来源:Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine, 2016, 2016: 9352725.
DOI:10.1155/2016/9352725

摘要

<jats:p>A deterministic ordinary differential equation model for the dynamics and spread of Ebola Virus Disease is derived and studied. The model contains quarantine and nonquarantine states and can be used to evaluate transmission both in treatment centres and in the community. Possible sources of exposure to infection, including cadavers of Ebola Virus victims, are included in the model derivation and analysis. Our model’s results show that there exists a threshold parameter,<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>R</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn mathvariant="normal">0</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>, with the property that when its value is above unity, an endemic equilibrium exists whose value and size are determined by the size of this threshold parameter, and when its value is less than unity, the infection does not spread into the community. The equilibrium state, when it exists, is locally and asymptotically stable with oscillatory returns to the equilibrium point. The basic reproduction number,<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>R</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn mathvariant="normal">0</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>, is shown to be strongly dependent on the initial response of the emergency services to suspected cases of Ebola infection. When intervention measures such as quarantining are instituted fully at the beginning, the value of the reproduction number reduces and any further infections can only occur at the treatment centres. Effective control measures, to reduce<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>R</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn mathvariant="normal">0</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>to values below unity, are discussed.</jats:p>

  • 出版日期2016
  • 单位Lehigh University