title: Modeling epidemics dynamics on heterogenous networks.
abstract: The dynamics of the SIS process on heterogenous networks, where different local communities are connected by airlines, is studied. We suggest a new modeling technique for travelers movement, in which the movement does not affect the demographic parameters characterizing the metapopulation. A solution to the deterministic reaction-diffusion equations that emerges from this model on a general network is presented. A typical example of a heterogenous network, the star structure, is studied in detail both analytically and using agent-based simulations. The interplay between demographic stochasticity, spatial heterogeneity and the infection dynamics is shown to produce some counterintuitive effects. In particular it was found that, while movement always increases the chance of an outbreak, it may decrease the steady-state fraction of sick individuals. The importance of the modeling technique in estimating the outcomes of a vaccination campaign is demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel. benzioy@mail.biu.ac.il
authors.forename: Yossi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben-Zion
authors.forename: Yahel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Nadav M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Shnerb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014195:Travel