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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
09:29
Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Self-interest versus group-interest in antiviral control
Michiel van Boven1, Don Klinkenberg, Ido Pen
1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. michiel.van.boven@rivm.nl
Plos One
|December 4, 2008
Summary
Large-scale antiviral treatment programs face challenges due to individual risk-benefit calculations. Public health goals for epidemic control may conflict with individual willingness to use antiviral drugs.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Game Theory
Background:
- Antiviral agents show promise for emerging viral diseases like H5N1 avian influenza and SARS.
- The conditions influencing public participation in large-scale antiviral treatment programs remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the dynamics of large-scale prophylactic antiviral treatment programs.
- To compare public health optimal strategies with individually rational decisions in antiviral treatment.
Main Methods:
- Population dynamical and game theoretical analyses were employed.
- Investigated conditions for epidemic prevention and the tipping point where infection risk outweighs treatment cost.
Main Results:
- Individuals may have incentives to take fewer antiviral drugs than optimal for public health.
- Individual treatment decisions are attractive only when infection risk is significant, potentially leading to suboptimal outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Individual choices in antiviral drug use can diverge from public health objectives.
- A scenario where universal antiviral drug use is optimal for public health may result in no individual participation.
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