A two-thresholds policy for a Filippov model in combating influenza

J Math Biol. 2020 Aug;81(2):435-461. doi: 10.1007/s00285-020-01514-w. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Abstract

This work designs a two-thresholds policy for a Filippov model in combating influenza, so as to estimate when and whether to take control strategies, including the media coverage, antiviral treatment of infected individuals and vaccination of susceptible population. By introducing two tolerance thresholds [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of susceptible and infected individuals, the two-thresholds policy is designed as: a vaccination program is implemented when the number of susceptible individuals is above [Formula: see text]; an antiviral treatment strategy is taken and the mass media begins to report information about influenza when the infection number is larger than [Formula: see text]; no control strategies are required in other cases. Furthermore, the global dynamics of the model are analyzed by varying these two thresholds, including the existence and dynamics of sliding mode, and the existence and global stability of equilibrium. It is shown that the model solutions ultimately converge to a pseudoequilibrium or a pseudoattractor on the switching surface, or a real equilibrium. The obtained results indicate that, by choosing susceptible and infected thresholds properly, the infection number can be remained below or at an acceptable level.

Keywords: Filippov model; Global dynamics; Influenza; Sliding-mode dynamics; Two-thresholds policy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human* / prevention & control
  • Models, Biological*
  • Policy
  • Vaccination