Integrated pharmaceutical and behavioral strategies for long-term control of RSV transmission: An impulsive SEIRS-type modeling study

Juan Pablo Gutiérrez-Jara; María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada; Fernando Córdova-Lepe; Juan Pablo Gutiérrez-Jara; María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada; Fernando Córdova-Lepe

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2026046

AIMS Public Health

2026, Volume 13, Issue 3: 864-880. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026046

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Research article

Integrated pharmaceutical and behavioral strategies for long-term control of RSV transmission: An impulsive SEIRS-type modeling study

1.
Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule (CIEAM), Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
2.
Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
3.
Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile

Received: 03 March 2026 Revised: 09 June 2026 Accepted: 09 July 2026 Published: 17 August 2026

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of pediatric acute respiratory infections worldwide, with epidemiological patterns shifting in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluates the independent and combined effects of pharmacological interventions and a targeted communication campaign aimed at modifying population behavior to reduce infection rates, applying an impulsive SEIRS differential equation model. The findings underscore the importance of integrated prevention strategies that combine pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical measures to achieve sustained control of RSV transmission and mitigate the risk of seasonal hospital surges.
- respiratory syncytial virus,
- pharmacological interventions,
- non-pharmacological intervention,
- mathematical model,
- public health
Citation: Juan Pablo Gutiérrez-Jara, María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada, Fernando Córdova-Lepe. Integrated pharmaceutical and behavioral strategies for long-term control of RSV transmission: An impulsive SEIRS-type modeling study[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2026, 13(3): 864-880. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026046

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Abstract

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of pediatric acute respiratory infections worldwide, with epidemiological patterns shifting in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluates the independent and combined effects of pharmacological interventions and a targeted communication campaign aimed at modifying population behavior to reduce infection rates, applying an impulsive SEIRS differential equation model. The findings underscore the importance of integrated prevention strategies that combine pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical measures to achieve sustained control of RSV transmission and mitigate the risk of seasonal hospital surges.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), Chile, by the grant FONDECYT Regular No. 1231256.

Authors' contributions

Conceptualization, JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL; methodology JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL; software, JPGJ; validation, JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL; formal analysis, JPGJ and MTMQ; investigation, JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL; resources, JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL; data curation, JPGJ and MTMQ; writing—original draft preparation, JPGJ and MTMQ; writing—review and editing, JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL; visualization, JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL; supervision, JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL; project administration, JPGJ and MTMQ; funding acquisition, JPGJ, MTMQ, and FCL. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflicts of interest in this paper.

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