Flu MODELO 1.0: A simulation model and graphic interface for training and decision support for influenza management

There are many models for simulating infectious disease outbreaks that assist health policy officials in making better decisions about mitigation strategies in the event of an epidemic. However, none of the existing models address the need to train students and policy makers in the concepts and use of such models. In this paper, we present Flu MODELO 1.0, an implementation of a model that simulates an outbreak of influenza that is mitigated with a variety of strategies. Flu MODELO 1.0 is coupled with a GUI for running, replicating, and analyzing simulations. A novel addition in the GUI is the module for educating users about the concepts used in flu outbreak simulation. Flu MODELO 1.0 includes a parallelized version for use in simulating large populations.