Optimal control strategies for the spread of Ebola in West Africa

The spread of Ebola virus in 2014 is unprecedented. The epidemic is still affecting West Africa, exacerbated by extraordinary socioeconomic disadvantages and health system inadequacies. With the aim of understanding, predicting, and control the propagation of the virus in the populations of affected countries, it is crucial to model the dynamics of the virus and study several strategies to control it. In this paper, we present a very simple mathematical model that describes quite well the spread of Ebola. Then, we discuss several strategies for the control of the propagation of this lethal virus into populations, in order to predict the impact of vaccine programmes, treatment, and the impact of educational campaigns. This is a preprint of a paper whose final and definite form will be published in Journal of Mathematical Analysis, ISSN: 2217-3412, Volume 7, Issue 1 (2016). Paper Submitted June 9, 2015; Revised and Accepted Dec 10, 2015