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A simple
agent-based model of malaria transmission investigating
intervention methods and acquired immunity
Karen A. Yokley, J. Todd Lee, Amanda K. Brown, Mary C. Minor and Gregory C. Mader
Vol. 7 (2014), No. 1, 15–40
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Abstract |
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Malaria, an infectious disease prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, and ordinary differential equation models have often been used to describe the spread of the disease. A basic agent-based model (ABM) of malaria transmission is established and compared to an ODE model of the disease in order to ascertain the similarity of the ABM to typical modeling approaches. Additionally, the ABM is described using protocol from current literature. In order to illustrate the flexibility of the ABM, the basic ABM is modified to incorporate the use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and the effect of acquired immunity. The simulations incorporating acquired immunity and the use of ITNs show a decrease in the prevalence of the disease due to these factors. Additionally, the ABM can easily be modified to account for other complicated issues affecting malaria spread. |
Keywords
malaria, agent-based modeling, population modeling
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Mathematical Subject Classification 2010
Primary: 92-08, 92D25
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Milestones
Received: 4 May 2012
Revised: 8 February 2013
Accepted: 23 May 2013
Published: 24 October 2013
Communicated by Suzanne Lenhart
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Authors |
| Karen A. Yokley | |
| Department of Mathematics and
Statistics Elon University Elon, NC 27244 United States |
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| J. Todd Lee | |
| Department of Mathematics and
Statistics Elon University CB 2320 Elon, NC 27244 United States |
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| Amanda K. Brown | |
| University of Texas Health Science
Center at Houston Houston, TX 77030 United States |
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| Mary C. Minor | |
| Fitts Department of Industrial and
Systems Engineering North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695 United States |
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| Gregory C. Mader | |
| Department of Mathematics North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695 United States |
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