Disease Spread Simulation to Assess the Risk of Epidemics during the Global Mass Gathering of Hajj Pilgrimage

Sultanah M. Alshammari, Harsha Gwalani, Joseph E. Helsing, Armin R. Mikler

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Global mass gatherings can pose a risk for communicable disease outbreaks. In these events, millions of people gather at a specific location over a specific period of time from different regions of the world. Such settings have the potential to import and/or export infectious diseases to and from the host countries by international participants. Planning and preparing for public health risks at global mass gatherings is a challenging and complex process. Advanced risk assessment tools are important to identify potential disease outbreaks. In this study, we propose a computational epidemic simulation framework to simulate disease transmission from the arrival, to the departure of international participants in the global event of Hajj. Computational simulations of disease spread in global mass gatherings provide public health authorities with powerful tools to assess the implications of these events and to evaluate the efficacy of prevention and control strategies to reduce their potential impacts.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2019 Winter Simulation Conference, WSC 2019
Pages215-226
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9781728132839
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2019
Event2019 Winter Simulation Conference, WSC 2019 - National Harbor, United States
Duration: 8 Dec 201911 Dec 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings - Winter Simulation Conference
Volume2019-December
ISSN (Print)0891-7736

Conference

Conference2019 Winter Simulation Conference, WSC 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNational Harbor
Period8/12/1911/12/19

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