title: Optimal Repellent Usage to Combat Dengue Fever.
abstract: Dengue fever is one of the most important vector-borne diseases. It is transmitted by Aedes Stegomyia aegypti, and one of the most effective strategies to combat the disease is the reduction of exposure to bites of these mosquitoes. In this paper, we present a game-theoretical model in which individuals choose their own level of protection against mosquito bites in order to maximize their own benefits, effectively balancing the cost of protection and the risk of contracting the dengue fever. We find that even when the usage of protection is strictly voluntary, as soon as the cost of protection is about 10,000 times less than the cost of contracting dengue fever, the optimal level of protection will be within 5 % of the level needed for herd immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Bennett College, Greensboro, NC, 27401, USA.
authors.forename: Chasity
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dorsett
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Bennett College, Greensboro, NC, 27401, USA.
authors.forename: Hyunju
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Bennett College, Greensboro, NC, 27401, USA.
authors.forename: Marie Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Paulemond
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA. rychtar@uncg.edu.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rychtář
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D050936:Basic Reproduction Number; D003715:Dengue / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005716:Game Theory; D006801:Humans; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009032:Mosquito Control; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors
chemical_list: D007302:Insect Repellents
keywords: Dengue fever; Game theory; Vector control