Propagation and immunization of infection on general networks with both homogeneous and heterogeneous components

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2003 Mar;67(3 Pt 1):031911. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.67.031911. Epub 2003 Mar 19.

Abstract

We consider the entire spectrum of architectures of general networks, ranging from being heterogeneous (scale-free) to homogeneous (random), and investigate the infection dynamics by using a three-state epidemiological model that does not involve the mechanism of self-recovery. This model is relevant to realistic situations such as the propagation of a flu virus or information over a social network. Our heuristic analysis and computations indicate that (1) regardless of the network architecture, there exists a substantial fraction of nodes that can never be infected and (2) heterogeneous networks are relatively more robust against spreads of infection as compared with homogeneous networks. We have also considered the problem of immunization for preventing wide spread of infection, with the result that targeted immunization is effective for heterogeneous networks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics*
  • Communicable Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Immunization*
  • Infections*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Reproduction