Analyzing spatial difusion and vaccination strategies in malaria epidemics: a numerical approach epidemics: a numerical approach

This research develops a human-vector interaction model for malaria transmission, categorized by susceptible, infectious, and recovered (SIR) states, and innovatively augmented to incorporate spatial dynamics through the addition of a difusion term for each class. This modifcation allows the model to account for the disease’s spread due to individual mobility. The study conducted a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of the model, revealing a disease-free equilibrium that is stable in the absence of infected immigrant infux, provided the basic reproductive number (R0) falls below unity. Introduction of infected immigrants shifts the model to only exhibit endemic equilibrium states. Vaccination coverage scenarios illustrated that a malaria-free community could be realized without the infux of infected immigrants, especially with expanded vaccination among children. Additionally, the research identifed that an integrated strategy combining vaccination, the use of personal protective equipment, and treatment represents the optimal approach to control malaria incidence. This strategy is most efective with the complete halt of infected human migration, underlining the model’s novel consideration of spatial difusion in understanding and combating malaria transmission