Optimized strategy for the control and prevention of newly emerging influenza revealed by the spread dynamics model

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 2;9(1):e84694. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084694. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

No matching vaccine is immediately available when a novel influenza strain breaks out. Several nonvaccine-related strategies must be employed to control an influenza epidemic, including antiviral treatment, patient isolation, and immigration detection. This paper presents the development and application of two regional dynamic models of influenza with Pontryagin's Maximum Principle to determine the optimal control strategies for an epidemic and the corresponding minimum antiviral stockpiles. Antiviral treatment was found to be the most effective measure to control new influenza outbreaks. In the case of inadequate antiviral resources, the preferred approach was the centralized use of antiviral resources in the early stage of the epidemic. Immigration detection was the least cost-effective; however, when used in combination with the other measures, it may play a larger role. The reasonable mix of the three control measures could reduce the number of clinical cases substantially, to achieve the optimal control of new influenza.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Emigration and Immigration
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus*
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / drug therapy
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Influenza, Human / transmission
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Patient Isolation

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Influenza Vaccines