Simulating the potential role of media coverage and infected bats in the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Multiple epidemiological models have been developed to model the transmission dynamics of Ebola virus (EBOV) disease in West Africa in 2014 because the severity of the epidemic is commonly overestimated. A compartmental model that incorporates the media impact and the effect of infected bats was constructed and calibrated using data reported until the end of 2014. The final cumulative number of deaths and confirmed cases were estimated to be 1.0921×104(95% CI 9.7706×103-1.2072×104) and 1.5193×104(95% CI 1.3593×104-1.6795×104), respectively. The epidemic was estimated to end on June 2015, which was similar to the data reported by the World Health Organization. A sensitivity analysis indicated that an increase of either the media impact or the number of infectious bats that are captured daily can increase the cumulative number of confirmed cases/deaths. Of the considered epidemiological parameters, only the media coverage can significantly reduce both the peak time and the value of the cumulative confirmed cases/deaths. Thus, we propose 'the cumulative confirmed cases and deaths' as another media mechanism. In conclusion, the media impact contributed to the control of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and infectious bats may be a potential source of the epidemic.
School of Biomedical Engineering, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
Qiang
Q
Li
School of Biomedical Engineering, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
Furong
F
Lu
School of Biomedical Engineering, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
Chenxi
C
Dai
Department of Health, Academy of Military Science, PLA, Beijing 100091, PR China.
Minjun
M
Fan
School of Mathematical Science, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian 223300 PR China.
Weiming
W
Wang
School of Biomedical Engineering, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China. Electronic address: kfwang72@163.com.
Kaifa
K
Wang
D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D008954:Models, Biological
2014 West African Ebola virus outbreak; Infected bats; Mathematical modeling; Media impact