Who you know: Network models of disease

Previous topics in the institute have covered compartmental models of disease that typically assume the population mixes entirely randomly. Yet intuitively, we know this isn’t true in reality. Individuals have more contact with their friends, family and co-workers than they do with random strangers. These networks of contacts can have a profound influence on the spread of disease, and the ability of public health professionals to effectively intervene to prevent disease spread. This session will discuss the use of networks to model heterogeneous mixing of populations, both socially and spatially, using the example of a small, identifiable group of individuals existing in a larger social context during a zombie outbreak.

Learning Objectives:

1. Compare network-based models to compartmental-based models.
2. Describe patterns of mixing between people that may give rise to different types of contact networks.
3. Formulate their own network based on family, friends, or workplace contacts.