Special Session 15: Recent Advances on Population Models in Ecology and Epidemiology

Threshold dynamics of a nonlocal dispersal HIV/AIDS epidemic model with spatial heterogeneity and antiretroviral therapy

Xiunan Wang
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
USA
Co-Author(s):    Peng Wu, Xiunan Wang, Hao Wang
Abstract:
Antiretroviral therapy and long-range diffusion of HIV-infected individuals in heterogeneous environments can greatly impact the transmission and distribution of HIV/AIDS in a population. In this talk, I will present a nonlocal dispersal HIV/AIDS epidemic model incorporating spatial heterogeneity as well as antiretroviral therapy to study the spatial and temporal dynamics of HIV/AIDS in China. We establish the well-posedness and the existence of the global attractor for the system. Then we derive the basic reproduction ratio $R_0$ and obtain the global dynamics of the system in terms of $R_0$. Our numerical simulations suggest that: (1) the dynamics of HIV/AIDS transmission largely depends on the nonlocal dispersal kernel function; (2) it is necessary to monitor and design/refine rules for the mobility of HIV-infected population between remote and metropolitan areas to control the HIV/AIDS transmission; (3) antiretroviral therapy benefits not only each treated individual but also the entire community, and increasing the therapy coverage rate is one of the most effective ways to prolong the longevity of HIV-infected population. Moreover, spatial dispersal is also an important factor that cannot be ignored for designing antiretroviral therapy strategies.