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LeJeune L, Ghaffarzadegan N, Childs LM, Saucedo O. Mathematical analysis of simple behavioral epidemic models. Math Biosci 2024; 375:109250. [PMID: 39009074 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2024.109250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 highlighted the importance of considering human behavior change when modeling disease dynamics. This led to developing various models that incorporate human behavior. Our objective is to contribute to an in-depth, mathematical examination of such models. Here, we consider a simple deterministic compartmental model with endogenous incorporation of human behavior (i.e., behavioral feedback) through transmission in a classic Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) structure. Despite its simplicity, the SEIR structure with behavior (SEIRb) was shown to perform well in forecasting, especially compared to more complicated models. We contrast this model with an SEIR model that excludes endogenous incorporation of behavior. Both models assume permanent immunity to COVID-19, so we also consider a modification of the models which include waning immunity (SEIRS and SEIRSb). We perform equilibria, sensitivity, and identifiability analyses on all models and examine the fidelity of the models to replicate COVID-19 data across the United States. Endogenous incorporation of behavior significantly improves a model's ability to produce realistic outbreaks. While the two endogenous models are similar with respect to identifiability and sensitivity, the SEIRSb model, with the more accurate assumption of the waning immunity, strengthens the initial SEIRb model by allowing for the existence of an endemic equilibrium, a realistic feature of COVID-19 dynamics. When fitting the model to data, we further consider the addition of simple seasonality affecting disease transmission to highlight the explanatory power of the models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah LeJeune
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, 225 Stanger St, Blacksburg, 24061, USA; Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 24061, USA.
| | - Navid Ghaffarzadegan
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 7054 Haycock Rd, Falls Church, 22043, USA.
| | - Lauren M Childs
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, 225 Stanger St, Blacksburg, 24061, USA; Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 24061, USA.
| | - Omar Saucedo
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, 225 Stanger St, Blacksburg, 24061, USA; Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 24061, USA.
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2
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Schumacher J, Kühne L, Brüssermann S, Geisler B, Jäckle S. COVID-19 isolation and quarantine orders in Berlin-Reinickendorf (Germany): How many, how long and to whom? PLoS One 2024; 19:e0271848. [PMID: 38466677 PMCID: PMC10927113 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Isolating COVID-19 cases and quarantining their close contacts can prevent COVID-19 transmissions but also inflict harm. We analysed isolation and quarantine orders by the local public health agency in Berlin-Reinickendorf (Germany) and their dependence on the recommendations by the Robert Koch Institute, the national public health institute. Between 3 March 2020 and 18 December 2021 the local public health agency ordered 24 603 isolations (9.2 per 100 inhabitants) and 45 014 quarantines (17 per 100 inhabitants) in a population of 266 123. The mean contacts per case was 1.9. More days of quarantine per 100 inhabitants were ordered for children than for adults: 4.1 for children aged 0-6, 5.2 for children aged 7-17, 0.9 for adults aged 18-64 and 0.3 for senior citizens aged 65-110. The mean duration for isolation orders was 10.2 and for quarantine orders 8.2 days. We calculated a delay of 4 days between contact and quarantine order. 3484 contact persons were in quarantine when they developed an infection. This represents 8% of all individuals in quarantine and 14% of those in isolation. Our study quantifies isolation and quarantine orders, shows that children had been ordered to quarantine more than adults and that there were fewer school days lost to isolation or quarantine as compared to school closures. Our results indicate that the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute had an influence on isolation and quarantine duration as well as contact identification and that the local public health agency was not able to provide rigorous contact tracing, as the mean number of contacts was lower than the mean number of contacts per person known from literature. Additionally, a considerable portion of the population underwent isolation or quarantine, with a notable number of cases emerging during the quarantine period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Schumacher
- Local Public Health Agency, Berlin, Germany
- Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lisa Kühne
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Sophia Brüssermann
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Geisler
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sonja Jäckle
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Lübeck, Germany
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Hyug Choi J, Sook Jun M, Yong Jeon J, Kim HS, Kyung Kim Y, Ho Jeon C, Hwan Choi S, Sun Kim D, Han MH, Won Oh J. Global lineage evolution pattern of sars-cov-2 in Africa, America, Europe, and Asia: A comparative analysis of variant clusters and their relevance across continents. J Transl Int Med 2023; 11:410-422. [PMID: 38130632 PMCID: PMC10732492 DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2023-0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The objective of this study is to provide a comparative analysis of variant clusters and their relevance across Africa, America, Europe, and Asia, in order to understand the evolutionary patterns of the virus across different regions and to inform the development of targeted interventions and genomic surveillance eforts. Methods The study analyzed the global lineage evolution pattern of 74, 075 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes from 32 countries across four continents, focusing on variant clusters and their relevance across regions. Variants were weighted according to their hierarchical level. The correlation between variants was visualized through Dimensionality reduction analysis and Pairwise Pearson's correlation. We presented a reconstructed phylogenetic tree based on correlation analysis and variant weights. Results The analysis revealed that each continent had distinct variant clusters and different evolutionary patterns. The Americas had two clustered variants before lineage divergence and a downstream confluence lineage, Europe had bifurcation into two global lineages with an early occurrence of certain cluster while Asia had a downstream confluence of two large lineages diverging by two distinct clusters. Based on the cluster patterns of shared variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Africa demonstrated a relatively clear distinction among three distinct regions. Conclusions The study provides insights into the evolutionary patterns of SARS-CoV-2 and highlights the importance of international collaboration in tracking and responding to emerging variants. The study found that the global pandemic was driven by Omicron variants that evolved with significant differences between countries and regions, and with different patterns across continents.
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Affiliation(s)
- June Hyug Choi
- Department of Anatomy, BK21 FOUR KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Mee Sook Jun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Yonsei University-Industry Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Hae-Suk Kim
- Theragen Bio Co., Ltd., Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Kyung Kim
- Department of Clinical Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Ho Jeon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seock Hwan Choi
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, BioMedical Research Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Sun Kim
- Department of Anatomy, BK21 FOUR KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Man-Hoon Han
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, BioMedical Research Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Oh
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Vallée A. Geoepidemiological perspective on COVID-19 pandemic review, an insight into the global impact. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1242891. [PMID: 37927887 PMCID: PMC10620809 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1242891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic showed major impacts, on societies worldwide, challenging healthcare systems, economies, and daily life of people. Geoepidemiology, an emerging field that combines geography and epidemiology, has played a vital role in understanding and combatting the spread of the virus. This interdisciplinary approach has provided insights into the spatial patterns, risk factors, and transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic at different scales, from local communities to global populations. Spatial patterns have revealed variations in incidence rates, with urban-rural divides and regional hotspots playing significant roles. Cross-border transmission has highlighted the importance of travel restrictions and coordinated public health responses. Risk factors such as age, underlying health conditions, socioeconomic factors, occupation, demographics, and behavior have influenced vulnerability and outcomes. Geoepidemiology has also provided insights into the transmissibility and spread of COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, super-spreading events, and the impact of variants. Geoepidemiology should be vital in understanding and responding to evolving new viral challenges of this and future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Vallée
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Foch Hospital, Suresnes, France
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Khan MMUR, Arefin MR, Tanimoto J. Time delay of the appearance of a new strain can affect vaccination behavior and disease dynamics: An evolutionary explanation. Infect Dis Model 2023; 8:656-671. [PMID: 37346475 PMCID: PMC10257886 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of a novel strain during a pandemic, like the current COVID-19, is a major concern to the healthcare system. The most effective strategy to control this type of pandemic is vaccination. Many previous studies suggest that the existing vaccine may not be fully effective against the new strain. Additionally, the new strain's late arrival has a significant impact on the disease dynamics and vaccine coverage. Focusing on these issues, this study presents a two-strain epidemic model in which the new strain appears with a time delay. We considered two vaccination provisions, namely preinfection and postinfection vaccinations, which are governed by human behavioral dynamics. In such a framework, individuals have the option to commit vaccination before being infected with the first strain. Additionally, people who forgo vaccination and become infected with the first train have the chance to be vaccinated (after recovery) in an attempt to avoid infection from the second strain. However, a second strain can infect vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. People may have additional opportunities to be vaccinated and to protect themselves from the second strain due to the time delay. Considering the cost of the vaccine, the severity of the new strain, and the vaccine's effectiveness, our results indicated that delaying the second strain decreases the peak size of the infected individuals. Finally, by estimating the social efficiency deficit, we discovered that the social dilemma for receiving immunization decreases with the delay in the arrival of the second strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Mamun-Ur-Rashid Khan
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Kasuga-koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka, 816-8580, Japan
- Department of Mathematics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Rajib Arefin
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Kasuga-koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka, 816-8580, Japan
- Department of Mathematics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Jun Tanimoto
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Kasuga-koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka, 816-8580, Japan
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Kasuga-koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka, 816-8580, Japan
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Ojo MM, Peter OJ, Goufo EFD, Nisar KS. A mathematical model for the co-dynamics of COVID-19 and tuberculosis. MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTERS IN SIMULATION 2023; 207:499-520. [PMID: 36691571 PMCID: PMC9850643 DOI: 10.1016/j.matcom.2023.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we formulated and analyzed a deterministic mathematical model for the co-infection of COVID-19 and tuberculosis, to study the co-dynamics and impact of each disease in a given population. Using each disease's corresponding reproduction number, the existence and stability of the disease-free equilibrium were established. When the respective threshold quantitiesR C , andR T are below unity, the COVID-19 and TB-free equilibrium are said to be locally asymptotically stable. The impact of vaccine (i.e., efficacy and vaccinated proportion) and the condition required for COVID-19 eradication was examined. Furthermore, the presence of the endemic equilibria of the sub-models is analyzed and the criteria for the phenomenon of backward bifurcation of the COVID-19 sub-model are presented. To better understand how each disease condition impacts the dynamics behavior of the other, we investigate the invasion criterion of each disease by computing the threshold quantity known as the invasion reproduction number. We perform a numerical simulation to investigate the impact of threshold quantities ( R C , R T ) with respect to their invasion reproduction number, co-infection transmission rate ( β c t ) , and each disease transmission rate ( β c , β t ) on disease dynamics. The outcomes established the necessity for the coexistence or elimination of both diseases from the communities. Overall, our findings imply that while COVID-19 incidence decreases with co-infection prevalence, the burden of tuberculosis on the human population increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayowa M Ojo
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Microbiology Division, Lenexa, KS, USA
| | - Olumuyiwa James Peter
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | | | - Kottakkaran Sooppy Nisar
- Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Wadi Aldawaser, Saudi Arabia
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Wong A, Barrero Guevara LA, Goult E, Briga M, Kramer SC, Kovacevic A, Opatowski L, Domenech de Cellès M. The interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with cocirculating pathogens: Epidemiological implications and current knowledge gaps. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011167. [PMID: 36888684 PMCID: PMC9994710 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of effective vaccines, the persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suggests that cocirculation with other pathogens and resulting multiepidemics (of, for example, COVID-19 and influenza) may become increasingly frequent. To better forecast and control the risk of such multiepidemics, it is essential to elucidate the potential interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with other pathogens; these interactions, however, remain poorly defined. Here, we aimed to review the current body of evidence about SARS-CoV-2 interactions. Our review is structured in four parts. To study pathogen interactions in a systematic and comprehensive way, we first developed a general framework to capture their major components: sign (either negative for antagonistic interactions or positive for synergistic interactions), strength (i.e., magnitude of the interaction), symmetry (describing whether the interaction depends on the order of infection of interacting pathogens), duration (describing whether the interaction is short-lived or long-lived), and mechanism (e.g., whether interaction modifies susceptibility to infection, transmissibility of infection, or severity of disease). Second, we reviewed the experimental evidence from animal models about SARS-CoV-2 interactions. Of the 14 studies identified, 11 focused on the outcomes of coinfection with nonattenuated influenza A viruses (IAVs), and 3 with other pathogens. The 11 studies on IAV used different designs and animal models (ferrets, hamsters, and mice) but generally demonstrated that coinfection increased disease severity compared with either monoinfection. By contrast, the effect of coinfection on the viral load of either virus was variable and inconsistent across studies. Third, we reviewed the epidemiological evidence about SARS-CoV-2 interactions in human populations. Although numerous studies were identified, only a few were specifically designed to infer interaction, and many were prone to multiple biases, including confounding. Nevertheless, their results suggested that influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccinations were associated with a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, fourth, we formulated simple transmission models of SARS-CoV-2 cocirculation with an epidemic viral pathogen or an endemic bacterial pathogen, showing how they can naturally incorporate the proposed framework. More generally, we argue that such models, when designed with an integrative and multidisciplinary perspective, will be invaluable tools to resolve the substantial uncertainties that remain about SARS-CoV-2 interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabelle Wong
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology group, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Public Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Andrea Barrero Guevara
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology group, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Public Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Goult
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology group, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Briga
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology group, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah C. Kramer
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology group, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Kovacevic
- Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Anti-infective Evasion and Pharmacoepidemiology Team, CESP, Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, INSERM U1018 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Lulla Opatowski
- Epidemiology and Modelling of Antibiotic Evasion, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Anti-infective Evasion and Pharmacoepidemiology Team, CESP, Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, INSERM U1018 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
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Agusto FB, Numfor E, Srinivasan K, Iboi EA, Fulk A, Saint Onge JM, Peterson AT. Impact of public sentiments on the transmission of COVID-19 across a geographical gradient. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14736. [PMID: 36819996 PMCID: PMC9938658 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a recently discovered, novel coronavirus, SARS-COV-2. The disease has led to over 81 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, with close to two million deaths. In the current social climate, the risk of COVID-19 infection is driven by individual and public perception of risk and sentiments. A number of factors influences public perception, including an individual's belief system, prior knowledge about a disease and information about a disease. In this article, we develop a model for COVID-19 using a system of ordinary differential equations following the natural history of the infection. The model uniquely incorporates social behavioral aspects such as quarantine and quarantine violation. The model is further driven by people's sentiments (positive and negative) which accounts for the influence of disinformation. People's sentiments were obtained by parsing through and analyzing COVID-19 related tweets from Twitter, a social media platform across six countries. Our results show that our model incorporating public sentiments is able to capture the trend in the trajectory of the epidemic curve of the reported cases. Furthermore, our results show that positive public sentiments reduce disease burden in the community. Our results also show that quarantine violation and early discharge of the infected population amplifies the disease burden on the community. Hence, it is important to account for public sentiment and individual social behavior in epidemic models developed to study diseases like COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Numfor
- Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States
| | | | | | | | - Jarron M. Saint Onge
- University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States
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9
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We are stronger and better together. UKRAINIAN BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.15407/ubj94.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
I learned during twenty years in RECOOP HST Association that sharing ideas, plans and actions make a human network naturally productive. Also, I believed throughout these years that honesty is a key component of a healthy relationship. Not only because honesty helps us avoid harmful breaches of trust, but because it allows us to build creative collaborative research organizations. Nonetheless, in the last two years, we were challenged with a vast scale of crises. First, the COVID-19 pandemic and second, beginning February 24, 2022, the brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine have impacted everybody’s life causing significant concern and insecurity across the globe. Economic instability, disturbed work routines and disrupted family lives have caused higher risks of physical and mental disorders [1, 2]. Socially isolated people often feel lonely or depressed. Constantly lonely people have higher blood pressure, are more vulnerable to infection and are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Loneliness also interferes with an entire range of everyday functions such as sleep patterns, attention and logical and verbal reasoning [3-6]. At the time the pandemic calmed, the Russian barbaric aggression and bombardment of civilian targets exposed large populations to physical aggression, which grants more damage over time as many Ukrainians are losing human condition. Are we losing humanity also? Humans are good or bad, or predators also capable of great kindness. Humanity symbolizes human love and sympathy toward each other. Human qualities include honesty, integrity, courage, self-awareness and dedication. These qualities define who we are as human beings. In this troubled time, we must look for the good in people and strengthen the care for others. Gandhi taught us, “The power of humanity is the strength of individual commitment and the force of collective action.” When RECOOP HST Association does something to help in Ukraine, all of us gain a sense of being valuable, helpful and worthwhile. Gandhi’s words remind us, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” The human misery caused by Russia’s attacks only strengthen Ukrainians’ extraordinary spirit and their dedication to protect their family, culture and homeland. Putin is scrambled by the strength of Ukraine and getting more aggressive. His actions prove, like Gandhi wrote, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” And we are stronger and better together. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, blood pressure, COVID-19, dementia, pandemic, physical and mental disorders, research organizations
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Ojo MM, Benson TO, Peter OJ, Goufo EFD. Nonlinear optimal control strategies for a mathematical model of COVID-19 and influenza co-infection. PHYSICA A 2022; 607:128173. [PMID: 36106051 PMCID: PMC9461290 DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2022.128173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases have remained one of humanity's biggest problems for decades. Multiple disease infections, in particular, have been shown to increase the difficulty of diagnosing and treating infected people, resulting in worsening human health. For example, the presence of influenza in the population is exacerbating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We formulate and analyze a deterministic mathematical model that incorporates the biological dynamics of COVID-19 and influenza to effectively investigate the co-dynamics of the two diseases in the public. The existence and stability of the disease-free equilibrium of COVID-19-only and influenza-only sub-models are established by using their respective threshold quantities. The result shows that the COVID-19 free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable whenR C < 1 , whereas the influenza-only model, is locally asymptotically stable whenR F < 1 . Furthermore, the existence of the endemic equilibria of the sub-models is examined while the conditions for the phenomenon of backward bifurcation are presented. A generalized analytical result of the COVID-19-influenza co-infection model is presented. We run a numerical simulation on the model without optimal control to see how competitive outcomes between-hosts and within-hosts affect disease co-dynamics. The findings established that disease competitive dynamics in the population are determined by transmission probabilities and threshold quantities. To obtain the optimal control problem, we extend the formulated model by including three time-dependent control functions. The maximum principle of Pontryagin was used to prove the existence of the optimal control problem and to derive the necessary conditions for optimum disease control. A numerical simulation was performed to demonstrate the impact of different combinations of control strategies on the infected population. The findings show that, while single and twofold control interventions can be used to reduce disease, the threefold control intervention, which incorporates all three controls, will be the most effective in reducing COVID-19 and influenza in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayowa M Ojo
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Microbiology Division, Lenexa, KS, USA
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Temitope O Benson
- Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, USA
| | - Olumuyiwa James Peter
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria
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Agusto FB, Erovenko IV, Fulk A, Abu-Saymeh Q, Romero-Alvarez D, Ponce J, Sindi S, Ortega O, Saint Onge JM, Peterson AT. Correction: To isolate or not to isolate: the impact of changing behavior on COVID-19 transmission. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2065. [DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14406-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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12
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Campo VN, Palacios JL, Nagahashi H, Oh H, Rychtář J, Taylor D. A game-theoretic model of rabies in domestic dogs with multiple voluntary preventive measures. J Math Biol 2022; 85:57. [PMID: 36264390 PMCID: PMC9583067 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-022-01826-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Game theory is now routinely applied to quantitatively model the decision making of individuals presented with various voluntary actions that can prevent a given disease. Most models consider only a single preventive strategy and the case where multiple preventative actions are available is severely understudied. In our paper, we consider a very simple SI compartmental model of rabies in the domestic dog population. We study two choices of the dog owners: to vaccinate their dogs or to restrict the movements of unvaccinated dogs. We analyze the relatively rich patterns of Nash equilibria (NE). We show that there is always at least one NE at which the owners utilize only one form of prevention. However, there can be up to three different NEs at the same time: two NEs at which the owners use exclusively only the vaccination or movement restriction, and the third NE when the owners use both forms of prevention simultaneously. However, we also show that, unlike the first two types of NEs, the third kind of NE is not convergent stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vince N. Campo
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281 USA
| | - John Lawrence Palacios
- Division of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Guam, Mangilao, GU 96913 USA
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284 USA
| | - Hideo Nagahashi
- Division of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Guam, Mangilao, GU 96913 USA
| | - Hyunju Oh
- Division of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Guam, Mangilao, GU 96913 USA
| | - Jan Rychtář
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284 USA
| | - Dewey Taylor
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284 USA
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Rychtář J, Taylor D. A game-theoretic model of lymphatic filariasis prevention. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010765. [PMID: 36137005 PMCID: PMC9498957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne parasitic neglected tropical disease. In 2000, WHO launched the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) as a public health problem. In 2020, new goals for 2030 were set which includes a reduction to 0 of the total population requiring Mass Drug Administrations (MDA), a primary tool of GPELF. We develop a mathematical model to study what can happen at the end of MDA. We use a game-theoretic approach to assess the voluntary use of insect repellents in the prevention of the spread of LF through vector bites. Our results show that when individuals use what they perceive as optimal levels of protection, the LF incidence rates will become high. This is in striking difference to other vector-borne NTDs such as Chagas or zika. We conclude that the voluntary use of the protection alone will not be enough to keep LF eliminated as a public health problem and a more coordinated effort will be needed at the end of MDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Rychtář
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Dewey Taylor
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
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Yu Z, Keskinocak P, Steimle LN, Yildirim I. The Impact of Testing Capacity and Compliance With Isolation on COVID-19: A Mathematical Modeling Study. AJPM FOCUS 2022; 1:100006. [PMID: 36942015 PMCID: PMC9119710 DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2022.100006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Diagnostic tests can play an important role in reducing the transmission of infectious respiratory diseases, particularly during a pandemic. The potential benefit of diagnostic testing depends on at least 4 factors: (1) how soon testing becomes available after the beginning of the pandemic and (2) at what capacity; (3) compliance with isolation after testing positive; and (4) compliance with isolation when experiencing symptoms, even in the absence of testing. Methods To understand the interplay between these factors and provide further insight into policy decisions for future pandemics, we developed a compartmental model and simulated numerous scenarios using the dynamics of COVID-19 as a case study. Results Our results quantified the significant benefits of early start of testing and high compliance with isolation. Early start of testing, even with low testing capacity over time, could significantly slow down the disease spread if compliance with isolation is high. By contrast, when the start of testing was delayed, the benefit of testing on reducing infection spread was limited, even when testing capacity was high; the additional testing capacity required increased superlinearly for each day of delay to achieve a similar infection attack rate as in starting testing earlier. Conclusions Our study highlighted the importance of the early start of testing and public health messaging to promote isolation compliance when needed for an ongoing effective response to COVID-19 and future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoting Yu
- H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Pinar Keskinocak
- H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lauren N. Steimle
- H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Inci Yildirim
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
- Yale Institute of Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
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Awel S, Ahmed I, Tilahun D, Tegenu K. Impact of COVID-19 on Health Seeking Behavior of Patients with Chronic Disease at Public Hospitals in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia. Healthc Policy 2022; 15:1491-1500. [PMID: 35937965 PMCID: PMC9354862 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s367730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 is a global pandemic with unprecedented medical, economic and social consequences affecting nations across the world. This epidemic arises while chronic diseases are continued to be a public health concern. Though evidence is generated on its impact on the health care system, little is known about the Impact of COVID −19 on the care-seeking behavior of chronic patients. Objective To assess the Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare-seeking behavior of patients with chronic diseases attending follow-up at public hospitals in Jimma zone, South West Ethiopia. Methods Facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The sample was calculated using the single population proportion formula. Hospitals were selected by using simple random sampling. Then, the final calculated sample size for the study was proportionally allocated to each selected hospital. Data were collected from 400 participants through face-to-face interviews and card reviews. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses with 95% CI for odds ratio (OR) were used to identify significant factors. Results Of the total respondents 156 (39.0%) of them had poor health-seeking behavior. Contact history with COVID −19 patient (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.1–7.0), perceived moderate depression (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.2–4.2), perceived extreme depression (AOR = 4.3; 95% CI = 1.8–10.5), shortage of medication (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.0–6.2) increases the odds of poor health-seeking behavior. In addition, the odds of poor health-seeking in patients with no formal education were higher compared to patients with higher educational status (AOR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.0–9.0). Conclusion COVID −19 outbreaks affected the health-seeking behavior of patients with chronic diseases. The impact was found to be more significant among patients who had a contact history with COVID −19 patients. Moreover, perceived depression, shortage of medication, and low educational status were significant predictors of poor health-seeking behavior. Therefore, working on the barriers to the health-seeking behavior of chronic patients may reduce the effect of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Awel
- School of Nursing, College of Health Science, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Correspondence: Samira Awel, School of Nursing, College of Health Science, Institute of Health, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia, Tel +251 921918489, Email
| | - Ismael Ahmed
- School of Nursing, College of Health Science, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Desalew Tilahun
- School of Nursing, College of Health Science, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Kenenisa Tegenu
- School of Nursing, College of Health Science, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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