Modeling targeted layered containment of an influenza pandemic in the United States

M. Elizabeth Halloran, Neil M. Ferguson, Stephen Eubank, Ira M. Longini, Derek A.T. Cummings, Bryan Lewis, Shufu Xu, Christophe Fraser, Anil Vullikanti, Timothy C. Germann, Diane Wagener, Richard Beckman, Kai Kadau, Chris Barrett, Catherine A. Macken, Donald S. Burke, Philip Cooley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

412 Scopus citations

Abstract

Planning a response to an outbreak of a pandemic strain of influenza is a high public health priority. Three research groups using different individual-based, stochastic simulation models have examined the consequences of intervention strategies chosen in consultation with U.S. public health workers. The first goal is to simulate the effectiveness of a set of potentially feasible intervention strategies. Combinations called targeted layered containment (TLC) of influenza antiviral treatment and prophylaxis and nonpharmaceutical interventions of quarantine, isolation, school closure, community social distancing, and workplace social distancing are considered. The second goal is to examine the robustness of the results to model assumptions. The comparisons focus on a pandemic outbreak in a population similar to that of Chicago, with ≈8.6 million people. The simulations suggest that at the expected transmissibility of a pandemic strain, timely implementation of a combination of targeted household antiviral prophylaxis, and social distancing measures could substantially lower the illness attack rate before a highly efficacious vaccine could become available. Timely initiation of measures and school closure play important roles. Because of the current lack of data on which to base such models, further field research is recommended to learn more about the sources of transmission and the effectiveness of social distancing measures in reducing influenza transmission.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4639-4644
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume105
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 25 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Influenza antiviral agents
  • Mitigation
  • Prophylaxis
  • Social distancing
  • Transmission

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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