Optimal control of epidemics in metapopulations

Robert E. Rowthorn, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Christopher A. Gilligan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

Little is known about how best to deploy scarce resources for disease control when epidemics occur in different but interconnected regions. We use a combination of optimal control methods and epidemiological theory for metapopulations to address this problem. We consider what strategy should be used if the objective is to minimize the discounted number of infected individuals during the course of an epidemic. We show, for a system with two interconnected regions and an epidemic in which infected individuals recover and can be reinfected, that equalizing infection in the two regions is the worst possible strategy in minimizing the total level of infection. Treatment should instead be preferentially directed at the region with the lower level of infection, treating the other subpopulation only when there is resource left over. The same strategy holds with preferential treatments of regions with lower levels of infection when quarantine is introduced.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1135-1144
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the Royal Society Interface
Volume6
Issue number41
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 6 2009
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biotechnology
  • Biophysics
  • Bioengineering
  • Biomaterials
  • Biochemistry
  • Biomedical Engineering

Keywords

  • Control theory
  • Economic modelling
  • Epidemiological modelling
  • Quarantine
  • Spatio-temporal epidemics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Optimal control of epidemics in metapopulations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this