An Economic Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Approach for Mitigating Epidemic Spreading on Networks

We consider a discrete-time susceptible-infected-susceptible epidemic model on a network, in which we incorporate two control actions: vaccination of part of the population and implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Then, we formulate the problem of devising an optimal control strategy for the epidemic disease using the two actions, with a tradeoff between public healthcare impact of the disease and social and economic costs associated with interventions. The control problem is solved by leveraging an economic nonlinear model-predictive control scheme, for which we prove the closed-loop stability using a dissipativity argument.