Optimal control of a dengue model with cross-immunity

Abstract

Mathematical modelling of a dengue epidemic with two serotypes including a temporary cross-immunity yields a nonlinear system consisting of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We investigate an optimal control problem, where the integral of the infected humans is minimised within a time interval. The controls represent human actions to decrease the number of mosquitos in the model. An integral constraint is added, which takes a limitation on the sum of the human actions into account. On the one hand, we derive and apply a direct approach to solve the optimal control problem. Therein, a discretisation of the controls is constructed using spline interpolation in time. Consequently, a finite-dimensional constrained minimisation problem can be solved. On the other hand, we employ an indirect approach, where necessary conditions for an optimal solution are considered. This technique yields a multipoint boundary value problem of a larger system of ODEs including adjoint equations. We present results of numerical computations, where the two methods are compared.