Epidemic spreading with immunization on bipartite networks

TL;DR

This paper analyzes epidemic spread and control on bipartite networks, deriving thresholds for SIR and SIS models with imperfect, targeted immunization, with applications to sexually transmitted diseases.

Contribution

It provides the first derivation of epidemic thresholds for SIR and SIS models with immunization on bipartite networks, considering imperfect and targeted immunization strategies.

Findings

Derived epidemic thresholds for SIR and SIS models with immunization.

Illustrated results with heterosexual contact networks for STDs.

Showed impact of immunization rates on epidemic spread.

Abstract

Bipartite networks are composed of two types of nodes and there are no links between nodes of the same type. Thus the study of epidemic spread and control on such networks is relevant to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). When entire populations of two types cannot be immunized and the effect of immunization is not perfect, we have to consider the targeted immunization with immunization rates. We derive the epidemic thresholds of SIR and SIS models with immunization and illustrate the results with STDs on heterosexual contact networks.