A simple model for the spatial spread and control of rabies.

A simple mathematical model for the spatial spread of rabies is presented. It models the dynamics of the front of an epizootic wave. We show how the model can be used to estimate the minimum width (in kilometers) of a break, that is, a region in which a control scheme is employed in order to stop the spatial progression of the rabies wave front. A simple expression is derived for the surviving fox population, after the passage of the epizootic, in terms of measurable parameters of the model.