The implementation of non pharmaceutical interventions(NPIs) in smaller to large communities and its relation to RO and R(t) during HIN1 pandemic 2009

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the time of the 2009 HINI pandemic and its possible relation to RO and R(t). RO is defined as the mean number of people that a newly infected person will subsequently infect in a completely susceptible population whereas R(t) is the average number of new infections by an infectious individual at time t. RO is important for understanding the severity of an influenza outbreak while R(t) is a necessary tool to measure the progression of infection rate over time. A high RO value (more than 2) generally corresponds to a more serious outbreak. This thesis discusses a town in Mexico named La Gloria, which is thought to be the place where the HINI pandemic started, and the subsequent implementation of NPIs in Mexico City as the virus spread and people became aware of its novelty. An evaluation of Mexico's response to HlNl suggests that the emphasis on the use of NPIs may have related to a decreasing RO value. Further investigation of this relationship using news articles and Google Insights also shows interesting potential correlations. In short my thesis focuses on the possible relationship between ROs and NPIs in a pandemic setting.