Modeling the impact of control strategies on malaria and COVID-19 coinfection: insights and implications for integrated public health interventions

Abstract

This work discusses the challenge posed by the simultaneous occurrence of malaria and COVID-19 coinfection on global health systems. We propose a novel fractional order mathematical model malaria and COVID-19 coinfection. To assess the impact of control strategies on both diseases, we consider two control strategies which are, personal protection against mosquito bites ($$u_{1}(t)$$) and preventive measures for COVID-19 ($$u_{2}(t)$$). Numerical simulations demonstrate that consistent application of these measures leads to significant reductions in disease transmission. Using insecticide-treated nets and repellents during day and night effectively reduces malaria transmission, while implementing facial masks and hand hygiene controls COVID-19 spread. The most substantial impact is observed when both sets of protection measures are simultaneously adopted, highlighting the importance of integrated strategies. The study provides valuable insights into malaria and COVID-19 coinfection dynamics and emphasizes the impact of the control measures. of individual behavior and consistent adoption of personal protection measures to control both diseases. It underscores the need for integrated public health interventions to combat the dual burden of malaria and COVID-19, contributing to the development of targeted and efficient control measures.