Study of a mathematical model of an epidemic via dynamic programming approach.

We use some recent developments in Dynamics Programming Method to obtain a rigorous solution of the epidemic model formulated in E. Trélat [Controle optimal: théorie et applications, (online version 2020)] as an unsolved problem. In fact, this problem is proposed in the context of using Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. We use a certain refinement of Cauchy’s Method of characteristics for stratified Hamilton-Jacobi equations to describe a large set of admissible trajectories and identify a domain on which the value function exists and is generated by a certain admissible control. The optimality is justified by using of one of the well-known verification theorems as an argument for sufficient optimality conditions.