Optimal Control Strategy of Plasmodium vivax Malaria Transmission in Korea

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimal control strategy for Plasmodium vivax malaria transmission in Korea. METHODS: A Plasmodium vivax malaria transmission model with optimal control terms using a deterministic system of differential equations is presented, and analyzed mathematically and numerically. RESULTS: If the cost of reducing the reproduction rate of the mosquito population is more than that of prevention measures to minimize mosquito-human contacts, the control of mosquito-human contacts needs to be taken for a longer time, comparing the other situations. More knowledge about the actual effectiveness and costs of control intervention measures would give more realistic control strategies. CONCLUSION: Mathematical model and numerical simulations suggest that the use of mosquito-reduction strategies is more effective than personal protection in some cases but not always.