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. 2020 Jul 25;2020(1):384. doi: 10.1186/s13662-020-02845-0

Existence of solution and stability for the fractional order novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019) model

Azhar Hussain 1,2,3,, Dumitru Baleanu 4,5,6, Muhammad Adeel 7
PMCID: PMC7382328  PMID: 32834817

Abstract

The aim of this work is to present a new fractional order model of novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019) under Caputo–Fabrizio derivative. We make use of fixed point theory and Picard–Lindelöf technique to explore the existence and uniqueness of solution for the proposed model. Moreover, we explore the generalized Hyers–Ulam stability of the model using Gronwall’s inequality.

Keywords: Fractional Caputo–Fabrizio derivative, Novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019), Picard–Lindelöf technique

Introduction and preliminaries

Fractional calculus plays an important role for the mathematical modeling in many scientific and engineering disciplines. For detailed study, we refer the readers to [114] and the references cited therein.

In the early literature, fractional derivatives in the sense of Riemann–Liouville and of Caputo were used widely. Recent studies showed that at the boundary points of the interval on which the order of derivative is based, the kernels of these derivatives have a singularity. To overcome such problems, fractional derivatives have been generalized in many other ways. For details, we refer to [1523].

After the outbreak of novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019) on December 31, 2020, researchers started working to find the cure of the virus. Due the importance of mathematical modeling, Chen et al. [24] and Khan and Atangana [25] proposed the coronavirus models independently. In this paper, we generalize the novel coronavirus (nVoC-2019) model proposed by Khan and Atangana [25] by utilizing the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional derivative and explore the existence and uniqueness of its solution using fixed point theory. Also, we present the generalized Hyers–Ulam stability of it.

We now give some basic definitions which are used in the sequel.

The definition of Caputo fractional derivative can be found in many books (see, e.g., [2]).

Definition 1

For a differentiable function h, the Caputo derivative of order γ(0,1) is defined by

DγCh(t)=1Γ(nγ)0th(s)1(ts)γds. 1

Definition 2

([17])

Let hH1(a,b), a<b, a(,t), and γ(0,1); then the γth-order Caputo–Fabrizio derivative of h in the Caputo sense is given as

DγCFh(t)=M(γ)(1γ)ath(s)exp[α1α(ts)]ds, 2

where M(γ) is a normalizing function depending on γ such that M(0)=M(1)=1.

Definition 3

([26])

The corresponding fractional integral in the Caputo–Fabrizio sense is given by

IγCFh(t)=(1γ)M(γ)h(t)+γM(γ)ath(s)ds,0<γ<1. 3

Fractional model in the Caputo–Fabrizio sense

Very recently, Khan and Atangana [25] proposed a mathematical model of a novel corona virus (COVID-19) as follows:

dSpdt=pωpSpζpSp(Ip+ΨAp)NpωwSpM,dEpdt=ζpSp(Ip+ΨAp)Np+ωwSpM(1Θp)ηpEpΘpϱpEpΘpϱpEpωpEp,dIpdt=(1Θp)ηpEp(τpωp)Ip,dApdt=ΘpϱPEp(τapωp)Ap,dRpdt=τpIp+τapApωpRp,dMdt=ϕpIp+ϖpApφM, 4

with the initial conditions

Sp(0)=Sp(0)0,Ep(0)=Ep(0)0,Ip(0)=Ip(0)0,Ap(0)=Ap(0)0,Rp(0)=Rp(0)0,M(0)=M(0)0.

They generalized the model to a fractional order model using Atangana–Baleanu derivative and solved the model numerically.

In this paper, we replace Atangana–Baleanu derivative with Caputo–Fabrizio fractional derivative and generalize model (4) in the following way:

DγCFSp=pωpSpζpSp(Ip+ΨAp)NpωwSpM,DγCFEp=ζpSp(Ip+ΨAp)Np+ωwSpM(1Θp)ηpEpΘpϱpEpΘpϱpEpωpEp,DγCFIp=(1Θp)ηpEp(τpωp)Ip,DγCFAp=ΘpϱPEp(τapωp)Ap,DγCFRp=τpIp+τapApωpRp,DγCFM=ϕpIp+ϖpApφM, 5

where γ denotes the fractional order parameter and the model variables in (4) are nonnegative, the initial conditions are given by

Sp(0)=Sp(0)0,Ep(0)=Ep(0)0,Ip(0)=Ip(0)0,Ap(0)=Ap(0)0,Rp(0)=Rp(0)0,M(0)=M(0)0.

Using the initial conditions and fractional integral operator, we convert model (5) into the following integral equations:

Sp(t)Sp(0)=CFIγ[pωpSpζpSp(Ip+ΨAp)NpωwSpM],Ep(t)Ep(0)=CFIγ[ζpSp(Ip+ΨAp)Np+ωwSpM(1Θp)ηpEpEp(t)Ep(0)=ΘpϱpEpΘpϱpEpωpEp],Ip(t)Ip(0)=CFIγ[(1Θp)ηpEp(τpωp)Ip],Ap(t)Ap(0)=CFIγ[ΘpϱPEp(τapωp)Ap],Rp(t)Rp(0)=CFIγ[τpIp+τapApωpRp],M(t)M(0)=CFIγ[ϕpIp+ϖpApφM]. 6

For the sake of convenience, we assume the kernels

K1(t,Sp)=pωpSp(t)ζpSp(t)(Ip(t)+ΨAp(t))Np(t)ωwSp(t)M(t),K2(t,Ep)=ζpSp(t)(Ip(t)+ΨAp(t))Np(t)+ωwSp(t)M(t)(1Θp)ηpEp(t)ΘpϱpEp(t)K2(t,Ep)=ΘpϱpEp(t)ωpEp(t),K3(t,Ip)=(1Θp)ηpEp(t)(τpωp)Ip(t),K4(t,Ap)=ΘpϱPEp(t)(τapωp)Ap(t),K5(t,Rp)=τpIp(t)+τapAp(t)ωpRp(t),K6(t,M)=ϕpIp(t)+ϖpAp(t)φM(t) 7

and the functions

ϒ(γ)=1γM(γ),Φ(γ)=γM(γ). 8

Using (3), (7), and (8) in (6) and writing state variables in terms of kernels, we obtain

Sp(t)=Sp(0)+ϒ(γ)K1(t,Sp)+Φ(γ)atK1(x,Sp)dx,Ep(t)=Ep(0)+ϒ(γ)K2(t,Ep)+Φ(γ)atK2(x,Ep)dx,Ip(t)=Ip(0)+ϒ(γ)K3(t,Ip)+Φ(γ)atK3(x,Ip)dx,Ap(t)=Ap(0)+ϒ(γ)K4(t,Ap)+Φ(γ)atK4(x,Ap)dx,Rp(t)=Rp(0)+ϒ(γ)K5(t,Rp)+Φ(γ)atK5(x,Rp)dx,M(t)=M(0)+ϒ(γ)K6(t,M)+Φ(γ)atK6(x,M)dx. 9

The Picard iterations are given by

Spj+1(t)=ϒ(γ)K1(t,Spj)+Φ(γ1)atK1(x,Spj)dx,Epj+1(t)=ϒ(γ2)K2(t,Epj)+Φ(γ2)atK2(x,Epj)dx,Ipj+1(t)=ϒ(γ3)K3(t,Ipj)+Φ(γ3)atK3(x,Ipj)dx,Apj+1(t)=ϒ(γ4)K4(t,Apj)+Φ(γ4)atK4(x,Apj)dx,Rpj+1(t)=ϒ(γ5)K5(t,Rpj)+Φ(γ5)atK5(x,Rpj)dx,Mj+1(t)=ϒ(γ6)K6(t,Mj)+Φ(γ6)atK6(x,Mj)dx. 10

In order to show the existence and uniqueness of solution of model (5), we make use of fixed point theory and Picard–Lindelöf technique. First, we re-write model (5) in the following way:

{DγCFψ(t)=K(t,ψ(t)),ψ(0)=ψ0,0<t<T<. 11

The vector ψ(t)=(Sp,Ep,Ip,Ap,Rp,M) and K in (10) represent the state variables and a continuous vector function respectively defined as follows:

K=(K1K2K3K4K6K6)=(pωpSp(t)ζpSp(t)(Ip(t)+ΨAp(t))Np(t)ωwSp(t)M(t)ζpSp(t)(Ip(t)+ΨAp(t))Np(t)+ωwSp(t)M(t)(1Θp)ηpEp(t)ΘpϱpEp(t)ΘpϱpEp(t)ωpEp(t)(1Θp)ηpEp(t)(τpωp)Ip(t)ΘpϱPEp(t)(τapωp)Ap(t)τpIp(t)+τapAp(t)ωpRp(t)ϕpIp(t)+ϖpAp(t)φM(t)) 12

with the initial conditions ψ0(t)=(Sp(0),Ep(0),Ip(0),Ap(0),Rp(0),M(0)). Corresponding to (11), the integral equation is given by

ψ(t)=ψ0+ϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))+Φ(γ)atK(x,ψ(x))dx. 13

Moreover, K satisfies the Lipschitz condition given by

K(t,ψ1(t))K(t,ψ2(t))Ωψ1(t)ψ2(t). 14

Theorem 1

Assuming (14), there exists a unique solution of (11) if

(ϒ(γ)+TΦ(γ))Ω<1. 15

Proof

Consider A=[0,T], X=C(A,R6) and the Picard operator T:XX defined by

T[ψ(t)]=ψ0+ϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))+Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dx, 16

which turns equation (13) to

ψ(t)=T[ψ(t)]. 17

Together with the supremum norm A on ψ given by

ψ(t)A=suptAψ(t),ψ(t)X, 18

X defines a Banach space.

It is to be noted that the solution of the fractional order novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019) model is bounded, i.e.,

T[ψ(t)]ψ0A=ϒ(γ)(K(t,ψ(t)))+Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dxAϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))A+Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))Adx(ϒ(γ)+TΦ(γ))Ω<1.

Now using Picard operator equation (16), we have

T[ψ1(t)]T[ψ2(t)]A=ϒ(γ)(K(t,ψ1(t))K(t,ψ2(t)))+Φ(γ)0t(K(x,ψ1(x))K(x,ψ1(x)))dxAϒ(γ)K(t,ψ1(t))K(t,ψ2(t))A+Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ1(x))K(x,ψ1(x))Adxϒ(γ)Ωψ1(t)ψ2(t)A+Φ(γ)Ω0tψ1(x)ψ2(x)Adx(ϒ(γ)+TΦ(γ))Ωψ1(t)ψ2(t)A=Aψ1(t)ψ2(t)A,

where

A=(ϒ(γ)+TΦ(γ))Ω.

This implies

T[ψ1(t)]T[ψ2(t)]AAψ1(t)ψ2(t)A. 19

Thus the defined operator T is a contraction, and hence model (11) has a unique solution. □

Remark 1

We remark here that the stability by considering disease free equilibrium and the endemic equilibrium for model (11) can be proved on the same lines as given in [25].

Generalized Hyers–Ulam stability

In this section, we explore the stability analysis of model (11).

Definition 4

Let 0<γ<1 and K:[0,T]×R6R6 be a continuous function. Then (11) is Hyers–Ulam stable if there exist L>0 and ϵ>0 such that, for each solution ψC([0,T],R6) of

|CFDγψ(t)K(t,ψ(t))|ϵt[0,T], 20

there exists a solution ψC([0,T],R6) of (11) with

|ψ(t)ψ(t)|Lϵt[0,T]. 21

Definition 5

Let 0<γ<1 and K:[0,T]×R6R6 and Π:[0,T]R+ be a continuous function. Then (11) is generalized Hyers–Ulam–Rassias stable with respect to Π if there exists a constant CK,Π>0 such that, for each solution ψC([0,T],R6) of

|CFDγψ(t)K(t,ψ(t))|Π(t)t[0,T], 22

there exists a solution ψC([0,T],R6) of (11) with

|ψ(t)ψ(t)|CK,ΠΠ(t)t[0,T]. 23

Assume the following:

[A1]

K:[0,T]×R6R6 is continuous;

[A2]
there exists CK>0 such that
|K(t,ψ)K(x,ψ)|CK|ψψ|
for all ψ,ψR6, t[0,T];
[A3]
let ΠC([0,T],R+) be an increasing function, and let there exist λΠ>0 such that
0tΠ(x)dxλΠΠ(t) 24
for all x[0,T].

Theorem 2

Assuming [A1][A3] hold, (11) is generalized Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stable with respect toΠon[0,T]provided thatϒ(γ)CK<1.

Proof

Let ψC([0,T],R6) be a solution of (11). Then, from Theorem 1, model (11) has the unique solution

ψ(t)=ψ0+ϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))+Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dx,t[0,T]. 25

From (22), we have

|ψ(t)ψ0+ϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))+Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dx|ϒ(γ)Π(t)+Φ(γ)0tΠ(x)dx(ϒ(γ)+Φ(γ)λΠ)Π(t).

Thus

|ψ(t)ψ(t)||ψ(t)ψ0ϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dx||ψ(t)ψ0ϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dxϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dx+ϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))+Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dx||ψ(t)ψ0ϒ(γ)K(t,ψ(t))Φ(γ)0tK(x,ψ(x))dx|+ϒ(γ)|K(t,ψ(t))K(t,ψ(t))|+Φ(γ)0t|K(x,ψ(x))K(x,ψ(x))|dx(ϒ(γ)+Φ(γ)λΠ)Π(t)+ϒ(γ)CK|ψ(t)ψ(t)|+Φ(γ)CK0t|ψ(x)ψ(x)|dx.

Now, ϒ(γ)CK<1, so

|ψ(t)ψ(t)|(ϒ(γ)+Φ(γ)λΠ)Π(t)1ϒ(γ)+Φ(γ)CK1ϒ(γ)0t|ψ(x)ψ(x)|dx. 26

From Gronwall’s inequality, we have

|ψ(t)ψ(t)|[ϒ(γ)+Φ(γ)λΠ1ϒ(γ)exp(t)]Π(t).

Setting CK,Π=[ϒ(γ)+Φ(γ)λΠ1ϒ(γ)exp(t)], we arrived at

|ψ(t)ψ(t)|CK,ΠΠ(t).

This completes the proof. □

Conclusion

In this paper, we discussed the novel corona virus model given in [25] within the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional model, and we showed the existence and uniqueness of its solution by applying the Banach contraction principle and Picard–Lindelöf technique. Utilizing Gronwall’s inequality, we presented the generalized Hyers–Ulam stability of the fractional model.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the referees for their helpful suggestions.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Authors’ contributions

All authors contributed equally. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

There is no funding.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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