Modeling and optimal control on the spread of hantavirus infection

Abstract

In this paper, optimal control theory is applied to a system of ordinary differential equations representing a hantavirus infection in rodent and alien populations. The effect of the optimal control in eliminating the rodent population that caused the hantavirus infection is investigated. In addition, Pontryagin's maximum principle is used to obtain the necessary condition for the controls to be optimal. The Runge-Kutta method is then used to solve the proposed optimal control system. The findings from the optimal control problem suggest that the infection may be eradicated by implementing some controls for a certain period of time. This research concludes that the optimal control mathematical model is an effective method in reducing the number of infectious in a community and environment.