Optimal Control of Interdependent Epidemics in Complex Networks
For network scientists and epidemiologists, it provides a method to control interdependent epidemics, but the results are theoretical and lack concrete numerical improvements.
This paper tackles optimal control of two coupled epidemics in complex networks, proposing a framework and gradient descent algorithm that globally optimizes the cost-severity trade-off, with case studies validating the approach.
Optimal control of interdependent epidemics spreading over complex networks is a critical issue. We first establish a framework to capture the coupling between two epidemics, and then analyze the system's equilibrium states by categorizing them into three classes, and deriving their stability conditions. The designed control strategy globally optimizes the trade-off between the control cost and the severity of epidemics in the network. A gradient descent algorithm based on a fixed point iterative scheme is proposed to find the optimal control strategy. The optimal control will lead to switching between equilibria of the interdependent epidemics network. Case studies are used to corroborate the theoretical results finally.