Optimal tuberculosis prevention and control strategy from a mathematical model based on real data

Bull Math Biol. 2014 Jul;76(7):1566-89. doi: 10.1007/s11538-014-9962-6. Epub 2014 May 22.

Abstract

A mathematical control model for the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis (TB) in South Korea is developed on the basis of the reported active-TB and relapse-TB incidence data. In this work, optimal control theory is used to propose optimal TB prevention and control strategy and rearrange the government TB budget for the best TB elimination plan. The impact of distancing, case finding, and/or case holding controls are investigated when the number of infected and infectious individuals are minimized, while the intervention costs are kept low. The implementation of optimal control measures shows that the distancing control, such as isolation of infectious people, early TB patient detection, and educational program/campaign for healthy control, is the most effective control factor for the prevention of TB transmission in South Korea.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Models, Immunological*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control*