title: Towards a simulation environment for modeling of local influenza outbreaks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the design of a simulation environment for dynamic prediction of influenza transmission in local communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The technique trade-off method was used to identify and analyze basic design requirements on a simulation environment for modeling of influenza transmission. Data were collected through literature review and interviews with infectious disease experts. The identified requirements were matched to a set of design issues for the simulation environment,and a high-resolution prototype was implemented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Basic reproductive numbers for influenza transmission in a set of Swedish municipalities were calculated. Tradeoffs were necessary in the design between a focus on reproductive numbers vs. case fatality proportions, algorithm validity vs. model adaptability, and specificity in population description vs. generalizability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computer-based simulations can become important tools for local authorities preparing for influenza outbreaks. Balanced tradeoffs between model detail and public health effectiveness are important in simulation environment design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer and Information Science, Linköping University, Sweden. tti@ida.liu.se
authors.forename: Toomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Timpka
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jenvald
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gursky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D040442:Public Health Informatics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology