Citerank: (9) 679797Huaiping ZhuProfessor of mathematics at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at York University, a York Research Chair (YRC Tier I) in Applied Mathematics, the Director of the Laboratory of Mathematical Parallel Systems at the York University (LAMPS), the Director of the Canadian Centre for Diseases Modelling (CCDM) and the Director of the One Health Modelling Network for Emerging Infections (OMNI-RÉUNIS). 10019D3ABAB, 679799Iain MoylesAssistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at York University. 10019D3ABAB, 701037MfPH – Publications144B5ACA0, 701222OMNI – Publications144B5ACA0, 704045Covid-19859FDEF6, 714608Charting a FutureCharting a Future for Emerging Infectious Disease Modelling in Canada – April 2023 [1] 2794CAE1, 715329Nick OgdenNicholas Ogden is a senior research scientist and Director of the Public Health Risk Sciences Division within the National Microbiology Laboratory at the Public Health Agency of Canada.10019D3ABAB, 715617Schools859FDEF6, 715617Schools859FDEF6

Operating schools safely during the COVID-19 pandemic requires a balance between health risks and the need for in-person learning. Using demographic and epidemiological data between 31 July and 23 November 2020 from Toronto, Canada, we developed a compartmental transmission model with age, household and setting structure to study the impact of schools reopening in September 2020. The model simulates transmission in the home, community and schools, accounting for differences in infectiousness between adults and children, and accounting for work-from-home and virtual learning. While we found a slight increase in infections among adults (2.2%) and children (4.5%) within the first eight weeks of school reopening, transmission in schools was not the key driver of the virus resurgence in autumn 2020. Rather, it was community spread that determined the outbreak trajectory, primarily due to increases in contact rates among adults in the community after school reopening. Analyses of cross-infection among households, communities and schools revealed that home transmission is crucial for epidemic progression and safely operating schools, while the degree of in-person attendance has a larger impact than other control measures in schools. This study suggests that safe school reopening requires the strict maintenance of public health measures in the community.

[Research Square, 13 September 2022]

This paper aims to incorporate a high order stochastic perturbation into a SIQR epidemic model with transient prophylaxis and lasting prophylaxis. The existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution is proven and a stochastic condition in order to study the extinction of an infectious disease is established. The existence of a stationary distribution for the stochastic epidemic model is investigated as well. Numerical simulations are conducted to support our theoretical results and an example of application with COVID-19 data from Canada is used to estimate the transmission rate and basic reproduction number while constructing a model fitting the data.

[arXiv, 21 September 2023]

This paper presents a mathematical model to investigate co-infection with HIV/AIDS and zika virus (ZIKV) in Colombia and Brazil, where the first cases were reported in 2015-2016. The model considers the sexual transmission dynamics of both viruses and vector-host interactions. We begin by exploring the qualitative behaviour of each model separately. Then, we analyze the dynamics of the co-infection model using the thresholds and results defined separately for each model. The model also considers the impact of intervention strategies, such as, personal protection, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and sexual protection (condoms use). Using available parameter values for Colombia and Brazil, the model is calibrated to predict the potential effect of implementing combinations of those intervention strategies on the co-infection spread. According to these findings, transmission through sexual contact is a determining factor in the long-term behaviour of these two diseases. Furthermore, it is important to note that co-infection with HIV and ZIKV may result in higher rates of HIV transmission and an increased risk of severe congenital disabilities linked to ZIKV infection. As a result, control measures have been implemented to limit the number of infected individuals and mosquitoes, with the aim of halting disease transmission. This study provides novel insights into the dynamics of HIV/ZIKV co-infection and highlights the importance of integrated intervention strategies in controlling the spread of these viruses, which may impact public health.

[One Health, June 2023]

Background: Mpox (monkeypox), a disease historically endemic to Africa, has seen its largest outbreak in 2022 by spreading to many regions of the world and has become a public health threat. Informed policies aimed at controlling and managing the spread of this disease necessitate the use of adequate mathematical modeling strategies.

Objective: In this scoping review, we sought to identify the mathematical models that have been used to study mpox transmission in the literature in order to determine what are the model classes most frequently used, their assumptions, and the modelling gaps that need to be addressed in the context of the epidemiological characteristics of the ongoing mpox outbreak.

Methods: This study employed the methodology of the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews to identify the mathematical models available to study mpox transmission dynamics. Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and MathSciNet) were systematically searched to identify relevant studies.

Results: A total of 5827 papers were screened from the database queries. After the screening, 35 studies that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed, and 19 were finally included in the scoping review. Our results show that compartmental, branching process, Monte Carlo (stochastic), agent-based, and network models have been used to study mpox transmission dynamics between humans as well as between humans and animals. Furthermore, compartmental and branching models have been the most commonly used classes.

Conclusions: There is a need to develop modeling strategies for mpox transmission that take into account the conditions of the current outbreak, which has been largely driven by human-to-human transmission in urban settings. In the current scenario, the assumptions and parameters used by most of the studies included in this review (which are largely based on a limited number of studies carried out in Africa in the early 80s) may not be applicable, and therefore, can complicate any public health policies that are derived from their estimates. The current mpox outbreak is also an example of how more research into neglected zoonoses is needed in an era where new and re-emerging diseases have become global public health threats.

[BMJ Open, 19 September 2023]

Introduction: Aedes mosquitoes are the primary vectors for the spread of viruses like dengue (DENV), zika (ZIKV) and chikungunya (CHIKV), all of which affect humans. Those diseases contribute to global public health issues because of their great dispersion in rural and urban areas. Mathematical and statistical models have become helpful in understanding these diseases’ epidemiological dynamics. However, modelling the complexity of a real phenomenon, such as a viral disease, should consider several factors. This scoping review aims to document, identify and classify the most important factors as well as the modelling strategies for the spread of DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV.

Methods and analysis: We will conduct searches in electronic bibliographic databases such as PubMed, MathSciNet and the Web of Science for full-text peer-reviewed articles written in English, French and Spanish. These articles should use mathematical and statistical modelling frameworks to study dengue, zika and chikungunya, and their cocirculation/coinfection with other diseases, with a publication date between 1 January 2011 and 31 July 2023. Eligible studies should employ deterministic, stochastic or statistical modelling approaches, consider control measures and incorporate parameters’ estimation or considering calibration/validation approaches. We will exclude articles focusing on clinical/laboratory experiments or theoretical articles that do not include any case study. Two reviewers specialised in zoonotic diseases and mathematical / statistical modelling will independently screen and retain relevant studies. Data extraction will be performed using a structured form, and the findings of the study will be summarised through classification and descriptive analysis. Three scoping reviews will be published, each focusing on one disease and its cocirculation/co-infection with other diseases.

Ethics and dissemination: This protocol is exempt from ethics approval because it is carried out on published manuscripts and without the participation of humans and/or animals. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations in conferences.

[BMJ Open, 16 March 2023]

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex problem that requires the One Health approach, that is, a collaboration among various disciplines working in different sectors (animal, human and environment) to resolve it. Mathematical and statistical models have been used to understand AMR development, emergence, dissemination, prediction and forecasting. A review of the published models of AMR will help consolidate our knowledge of the dynamics of AMR and will also facilitate decision-makers and researchers in evaluating the credibility, generalisability and interpretation of the results and aspects of AMR models. The study objective is to identify and synthesise knowledge on mathematical and statistical models of AMR among bacteria in animals, humans and environmental compartments.

Methods and analysis: Eligibility criteria: Original research studies reporting mathematical and statistical models of AMR among bacteria in animal, human and environmental compartments that were published until 2022 in English, French and Spanish will be included in this study. Sources of evidence: Database of PubMed, Agricola (Ovid), Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience Direct (CABI), Web of Science (Clarivate), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and MathScinet. Data charting: Metadata of the study, the context of the study, model structure, model process and reporting quality will be extracted. A narrative summary of this information, gaps and recommendations will be prepared and reported in One Health decision-making context.

Ethics and dissemination: Research ethics board approval was not obtained for this study as neither human participation nor unpublished human data were used in this study. The study findings will be widely disseminated among the One Health Modelling Network for Emerging Infections network and stakeholders by means of conferences, and publication in open-access peer-reviewed journals.

[arXiv, 8 June 2023]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to public health by increasing mortality, extending hospital stays, and increasing healthcare costs. It affects people of all ages and affects health services, veterinary medicine, and agriculture, making it a pressing global issue. Mathematical models are required to predict the behaviour of AMR and to develop control measures to eliminate resistant bacteria or reduce their prevalence. This study presents a simple deterministic mathematical model in which sensitive and resistant bacteria interact in the environment, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are functions that depend on resistant bacteria. We analyze the qualitative properties of the model and propose an optimal control problem in which avoiding mutations and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) are the primary control strategies. We also provide a case study of the resistance and multidrug resistance (MDR) percentages of Escherichia coli to gentamicin and amoxicillin in some European countries using data from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net). Our theoretical results and numerical experiments indicate that controlling the spread of resistance in southern European regions through the supply of amoxicillin is challenging. However, the host immune system is also critical for controlling AMR.