Graph Matching Based Decision Support Tools For Mitigating Spread Of Infectious Diseases Like H1N1
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Jomon Aliyas Paul
Abstract
Diseases like H1N1 can be prevented from becoming a wide spread epidemic through timely detection and containment measures. Similarity of H1N1 symptoms to any common flu and its alarming rate of spread through animals and humans complicate the deployment of such strategies. We use dynamic implementation of graph matching methods to overcome these challenges. Specifically, we formulate a mixed integer programming model (MIP) that analyzes patient symptom data available at hospitals to generate patient graph match scores. Successful matches are then used to update counters that generate alerts to the Public Health Department when the counters surpass the threshold values. Since multiple factors like age, health status, etc., influence vulnerability of exposed population and severity of those already infected, a heuristic that dynamically updates patient graph match scores based on the values of these factors is developed. To better understand the gravity of the situation at hand and achieve timely containment, the rate of infection and size of infected population in a specific region needs to be estimated. To this effect, we propose an algorithm that clusters the hospitals in a region based on the population they serve. Hospitals grouped together affect counters that are local to the population they serve. Analysis of graph match scores and counter values specific to the cluster helps identify the region that needs containment attention and determine the size and severity of infection in that region. We demonstrate the application of our models via a case study on emergency department patients arriving at hospitals in Buffalo, NY.
©2012 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
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Articles in the same Issue
- Research Article
- Cybersecurity Policy-Making at the Local Government Level: An Analysis of Threats, Preparedness, and Bureaucratic Roadblocks to Success
- Between Safety and Security: The Policy Challenges of Transporting Toxic Inhalation Hazards
- Simulation-Based Evaluation of Port Emergency Evacuation Plans for Predictable Natural Disasters
- Tornado Warnings in Three Southern States: A Qualitative Analysis of Public Response Patterns
- Negotiating the 'Trading Zone'. Creating a Shared Information Infrastructure in the Dutch Public Safety Sector .
- The Cross-National Adaptability of EMS Protocols for Mass Casualty Incidents
- Graph Matching Based Decision Support Tools For Mitigating Spread Of Infectious Diseases Like H1N1
- Comparison of Sampling Methods for Post-Hurricane Damage Survey
- Crisis Leadership and Military Community Resilience
- The Status of General Aviation Airports in Disaster Response Planning
- Examining Factors Contributing to the Development of FEMA-Approved Hazard Mitigation Plans
- Communication/News
- Creating An Executive Doctorate In Civil Security In The United States
- A Practitioner-Researcher Partnership to Develop and Deliver Operational Value of Threat, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Training to meet the Requirements of Emergency Responders
- Opinion
- Medical Response Capabilities to a Catastrophic Disaster: "House" or House of Cards?
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