Modeling Assumptions, Mathematical Analysis and Mitigation Through Intervention

Abstract

Ebola virus is a life-threatening virus and has two major characteristics; one potential to have high mortality rate and the other infection transmission through newly infected dead bodies. There are some relevant features of Ebola that were observed during its recent outbreak: including varying rate of access to isolation facilities by patients and transmission of infection via improper handling of the dead bodies of infected diseased. Quick and safe burial may play an important role in the control and prevention of this virus. In this study, we consider mathematical modeling framework with four different cases for dynamics of Ebola virus with safe and unsafe burial practices, vaccination and treatment interventions with varying efficiency. The goal of this study is to show how timely treatment to Ebola leads to an effective control of the virus and, most importantly, how safe burial of dead bodies helps control the spread. ARTICLE HISTORY Received November 27, 2018 Accepted December 18, 2019