Optimal Control for Tuberculosis with Exogenous Reinfection and Stigmatization

Abstract

The effect of stigmatization is hindering the control of diseases. Especially in the case of exogenous reinfection, this effect can play a massive role. We develop in this paper, based on a tuberculosis model of Feng et.al. a model with exogenous reinfection and stigmatization. As in the base model, in presence of exogenous reinfection there exists multiple endemic equilibria. We solve an optimal control problem for a case scenario and show that both types of measures, those fighting stigmatization but also direct disease control have to be invoked.