Mathematical Epidemiology and Disease Spread Modeling

	Bourouiba Group Flu Study 2020	SNEEZING/COUGHING? EXPERIENCING COLD/FLU SYMPTOMS? *You may be eligible to participate in this ongoing 2020* study: ... more**
	Nosocomial amplification of MERS-Coronavirus	Nosocomial amplification resulted in nearly 200 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) during the 2015 South Korean MERS-coronavirus outbreak. It remains unclear whether certain types of cases were more likely to cause secondary infections than others, and if so, why. Publicly available demographic and transmission network data for all cases were collected from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between demographic characteristics and the likelihood of human-to-human transmission. Findings from the statistical... more
	Spatial dynamics of bar-headed geese migration in the context of H5N1	Virulent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since 2005 have raised the question about the roles of migratory and wild birds in the transmission of HPAI. Despite increased monitoring, the role of wild waterfowl as the primary source of the highly pathogenic H5N1 has not been clearly established. The impact of outbreaks of HPAI among species of wild birds which are already endangered can nevertheless have devastating consequences for the local and non-local ecology where migratory species are established. Understanding the entangled dynamics of migration and the disease... more
	From regional pulse vaccination to global disease eradication: insights from a mathematical model of poliomyelitis	Mass-vaccination campaigns are an important strategy in the global fight against poliomyelitis and measles. The large-scale logistics required for these mass immunisation campaigns magnifies the need for research into the effectiveness and optimal deployment of pulse vaccination. In order to better understand this control strategy, we propose a mathematical model accounting for the disease dynamics in connected regions, incorporating seasonality, environmental reservoirs and independent periodic pulse vaccination schedules in each region. The effective reproduction number, R_e,... more
	Role of the interaction of migratory bird species with nonmigratory poultry in sustaining H5N1 avian influenza	We investigate the role of migratory birds in the spread of H5N1 avian influenza, focusing on the interaction of a migratory bird species with nonmigratory poultry. The model is of patch type and is derived with the aid of reaction-advection equations for the migratory birds in the air along the flyways. Poultry may reside at some or all of the four patches of the model, which consist of the breeding patch for the migratory birds, their winter feeding patch, and two stopover patches where birds rest and refuel on their migration. Outward and return migratory routes can be different. The... more
	Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak mitigated by seasonal low pathogenic strains: Insights from dynamic modeling	The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 remains a threat for both wild and domestic bird populations, while low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) strains have been reported to induce partial immunity to HPAI in poultry and some wild birds inoculated with both HPAI and LPAI strains. Here, based on the reported data and experiments, we develop a two-strain avian influenza model to examine the extent to which this partial immunity observed at the individual level can affect the outcome of the outbreaks among migratory birds in the wild at the population level during... more
	Understanding the transmission of H5N1	H5N1 influenza virus is now endemic in many regions of the world. Outbreaks continue to occur with dev- astating impacts to the local economies and threatening human health. The transmission of the virus involves a complex interplay between the spatio-temporal dynamics of the potential avian hosts, the ecology of the virus and poultry farming and trade. Despite increased monitoring of wild bird populations and poultry trade, control measures remain insufficient to mitigate the spread of the virus. Here, focus is given on the influence of seasonality of migration and breeding in the... more