238939 Introduction to the SIR model

Saturday, October 29, 2011: 9:15 AM

Eric Lofgren, MSPH , Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Washington, DC
The deterministic compartment Susceptible-Infectious-Removed/Recovered ("SIR") model is the foundation of mathematical models of infectious disease, and widely used in practice. This presentation will provide an overview of the SIR model, using the familiar cultural context of a zombie outbreak to avoid the need for disease-specific expertise. The mathematics behind the model, using approachable techniques for non-mathematicians, will be discussed, and the assumptions and limitations of the model outlined.

This introduction will provide a framework for later, more complicated models that will be discussed in the institute.

Learning Areas:
Basic medical science applied in public health
Epidemiology
Other professions or practice related to public health
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the structure of a basic SIR model. 2. Identify key parameters that govern the behavior of SIR models. 3. Discuss major assumptions made by SIR models, and their validity.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present the proposed topic because I have previously presented on the topic of using zombie outbreaks to teach infectious disease modeling at previous (2010) APHA conferences. I also have extensive experience with epidemiological modeling, and have extensively published on applications of popular culture to mathematical modeling.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: A gentle introduction to mathematical modeling: Lessons from the living dead
See more of: APHA-Learning Institute (APHA-LI)