Human–animal Nipah virus transmission: model analysis and optimal control

A three-species nonlinear deterministic transmission model is proposed and analyzed for the Nipah virus. The system exhibits four equilibrium points, namely disease free, bat-animal disease free, bat disease free and endemic. The reproduction number is computed and the stability of each equilibrium point is discussed. Then the model is extended to study the optimal control. Three control strategies are considered: culling animals, using protecting gears (like glove, clothing, bamboo skirt, etc.) and isolating infectious individuals. The existence and characterization of optimal control are discussed. The numerical simulations are carried out for the choice of parametric values and initial conditions. These illustrate that the control strategies significantly reduce a load of infection in the animal and human populations. Remarkably, the effective use of protecting gears not only provides protection from the infection but also helpful in the elimination of the disease in the human population.