Localization and Spreading of Diseases in Complex Networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates how diseases can remain localized on specific nodes within complex networks, especially around hubs and heavily weighted edges, challenging the traditional view of widespread infection above the epidemic threshold.

Contribution

It demonstrates that disease localization occurs on finite network regions, influenced by hubs and high-weight edges, using both theoretical models and real-world network data.

Findings

Diseases can be localized on a finite set of nodes.

Hubs and high-weight edges are key centers of localization.

Localization occurs even above the epidemic threshold.

Abstract

Using the SIS model on unweighted and weighted networks, we consider the disease localization phenomenon. In contrast to the well-recognized point of view that diseases infect a finite fraction of vertices right above the epidemic threshold, we show that diseases can be localized on a finite number of vertices, where hubs and edges with large weights are centers of localization. Our results follow from the analysis of standard models of networks and empirical data for real-world networks.