IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine - November 2020 - 63

principle of TCM and limits the effectiveness
Using a "one-size-fits-all" prevention program for
of prevention. In this paper, we propose an
intelligent optimization method to develop
all residents is rarely effective, while developing a
diversified TCM prevention programs for
personalized program for each resident would be too
community residents. First, we use a fuzzy
expensive. We prefer to develop a set of diversified
clustering method to divide the population
based on both modern medicine and TCM
prevention programs, each for a group of residents.
health characteristics; we then use an interactive optimization method, in which TCM
playing a vital role in reducing the incidence rate and controlexperts develop different TCM prevention programs for differling the spread of COVID-19 [16]-[18].
ent clusters, and a heuristic algorithm is used to optimize the
However, we believe that there is much room for improving
programs under the resource constraints. We demonstrate the
community prevention of the pandemic using TCM. For
computational efficiency of the proposed method, and report
example, since the COVID-19 outbreak in China, many local
the application results of the method in TCM-based prevention
public health administrations have issued TCM prevention proof COVID-19 in 12 communities in Zhejiang province, China,
grams for COVID-19, and some communities used a single
during the peak of the pandemic.
program or prescription for all residents [19], [20]. Such a
"one-size-fits-all" solution violates the "treatment according to
I. Introduction
three factors (time, place, and people)" and "treatment based on
he ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneusyndrome differentiation" principles of TCM and, therefore,
monia (COVID-19), declared by the World Health
limits the effectiveness of prevention.
Organization as a global public health emergency,
According to requirements of local governments to improve
has been reported in over twenty-two million cases
community prevention of COVID-19, we propose an intelligent,
in over 200 countries and territories as of August 21, 2020.
diversified community prevention method for COVID-19
Community prevention and control has become the most
by combining TCM and modern computational intelligence
basic and essential part in reducing the risk of spread and promethods. First, we use a fuzzy clustering method to classify the
tecting public health during the pandemic [1], [2]. Currently,
population based on both modern medicine and TCM health
community prevention is a significant challenge, not only
characteristics. According to the health characteristics, TCM
because there is still no effective antiviral or vaccine, but also
experts develop a TCM prevention program for each cluster.
because of the pressing need to restart economy and restore
The initial program for each cluster aims to maximize the presocial life [3], [4].
vention effect on residents in the cluster. Nevertheless, the
Although modern medicine offers accurate diagnosis and
demands of all initial programs often exceed the available
treatment methods for many diseases, it shows weakness in preresources. We then use an interactive optimization method to
venting emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 for
continually evolve the prevention programs until all programs
which there is no vaccine, because epidemic prevention soluare approved by the TCM experts while all resource demands
tions based on modern medicine heavily rely on a clear underare satisfied. The proposed method has been practiced in a
standing of the pathogenic mechanism and a number of large
number of communities in Zhejiang province and extended to
case-controlled studies [5], [6], and the misuse of antibiotics
many other regions in China. The main contribution of this
can cause severe side effects [7].
work is the combination of traditional medicine with compuTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been developed
tational intelligence methods for diversified prevention of
and used in prevention and treatment of various diseases for
thousands of years in Chinese history. TCM is a comprehensive
COVID-19; in particular, we propose an improved fuzzy clussystem of treatment of acute and chronic disorders as well as for
tering method for residence grouping, and employ bio-inspired
the prevention of such disorders mainly based on herb medioptimization to fully utilize available resources to develop
cine [8]. Unlike modern medicine that focuses on killing
diversified programs to improve prevention effects.
viruses, TCM pays attention to improving the inherent selfresistance and reducing the likelihood of disease onset by using
II. Fuzzy Clustering of Community Residents
a unique holistic approach to establish equilibrium in the
Using a "one-size-fits-all" prevention program for all commuwhole and individual parts of the body [9]. The present princinity residents fails to consider interpersonal differences and is
ples on prevention of COVID-19 are to tonify body energy to
rarely effective. On the contrary, developing a personalized preprotect the outside body, dispel wind, dissipate heat and dissivention program for each resident would be too expensive due
pate dampness [10]. Facing an emerging infectious disease,
to limited medical resources under the pandemic. We prefer to
TCM prescriptions (formulae) are made by combining existing
develop a set of diversified prevention programs, each for a
crude herbs or minerals instead of developing new drugs. That
group of residents with similar physical characteristics. The
is why TCM has achieved great success in response to recent
characteristics include both modern medicine characteristics
epidemics such as SARS, H1N1, and Zika [11]-[15], and is
and TCM health characteristics, as summarized in Table I. The

NOVEMBER 2020 | IEEE COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE MAGAZINE

IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine - November 2020

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