Epidemic dynamics and endemic states in complex networks

We study by analytical methods and large scale simulations a dynamical model for the spreading of epidemics in complex networks. In networks with exponentially bounded connectivity we recover the usual epidemic behavior with a threshold defining a critical point below that the infection prevalence i...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pastor Satorras, Romualdo|||0000-0002-4051-6007, Vespignani, Alessandro
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2001
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/126203
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/126203
https://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.63.066117
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Epidemics
Social systems
Infection
Epidemics in complex networks
Scale-free networks
Social networks
Epidèmies
Sistemes socials
Infecció
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Física
Descripción
Sumario:We study by analytical methods and large scale simulations a dynamical model for the spreading of epidemics in complex networks. In networks with exponentially bounded connectivity we recover the usual epidemic behavior with a threshold defining a critical point below that the infection prevalence is null. On the contrary, on a wide range of scale-free networks we observe the absence of an epidemic threshold and its associated critical behavior. This implies that scale-free networks are prone to the spreading and the persistence of infections whatever spreading rate the epidemic agents might possess. These results can help understanding computer virus epidemics and other spreading phenomena on communication and social networks.