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Optimal Control Strategies for the Transmission Dynamics of Zika Virus: With the Aid of Wolbachia-Infected Mosquitoes |
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PP: 1-25 |
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doi:10.18576/ncmse/050101
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Author(s) |
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Odeh J. O.,
Agbata B. C.,
Tijani, K. A.,
Madubueze C. E.,
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Abstract |
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In this paper, we looked at the potential of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to reduce Wolbachia-free mosquito populations and control Zika virus transmission which has garnered significant attention in recent years. This naturally occurring bacterium in many insect species has been shown to inhibit the replication of Zika and other mosquito-borne pathogens within infected mosquitoes. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive mathematical model for Zika virus transmission dynamics by implementing vector control through Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. The model incorporates various critical components and further carried out necessary analyses such as local stability analysis, determination of the basic reproduction number, global stability investigation, endemic equilibrium characterization, sensitivity analysis, and numerical simulations. The aim is to provide a holistic understanding of the Zika virus transmission dynamics and the potential impact of vector control strategies using Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. Based on the result of the sensitivity analysis, the basic model of the Zika virus was extended to an optimal control model version by introducing four-time dependent controls, the use of condoms/avoidance of multiple sex partners, the screening/treatment of the infected humans, the boosting/enhancement of breeding Wolbachia mosquitoes and injection of Wolbachia infected mosquitoes into mosquito population. Our results show that the combination and implementation of these controls are very effective in reducing the number of infected individuals to almost zero before day 100 and eliminating the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes responsible for the spread of the Zika virus disease in the population. Finally, the results obtained through this mathematical modeling approach shed light on the promising effectiveness of such interventions in mitigating Zika virus outbreaks and contributing to the ongoing efforts in infectious disease control. |
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