Modelling and optimal control analysis of Lassa fever disease

Abstract Lassa fever is a severe hemorrhagic viral infection whose agents belong to Mastomys natelensis. Generally, humans contract Lassa virus through exposure to food or household products that have been contaminated with the excreta of the infected rodents. Lassa fever is endemic in some West African countries including Nigeria. A basic model is proposed to examine the transmission of the disease. The proposed model is subjected to qualitative study via the theory of differential equations and the threshold quantity that denotes the dominant eigenvalue was derived using next-generation matrix approach. The basic model is further extended to an optimal control model with four controls namely, the fumigation of the environment with pesticide, the use of condom to prevent human to human transmission during sexual activities, early treatment and the use of indoor residual spray. The theory of optimal control was explored to establish the necessary conditions for curtailing the transmission of Lassa fever. Numerical simulation was conducted and the results showed that if the Lassa fever transmission and spread were to be reduced significantly in the endemic region, all the control measures must be taken with all seriousness.