Suppressing traffic-driven epidemic spreading by use of the efficient routing protocol

TL;DR

This paper investigates how an efficient routing protocol can control epidemic spreading in networks, identifying optimal parameters and network conditions that maximize epidemic thresholds and suppress outbreaks.

Contribution

It introduces a routing strategy that effectively controls epidemic spread by tuning parameters and network conditions, filling a gap in traffic-driven epidemic control research.

Findings

Optimal routing parameters maximize epidemic threshold.

Higher network connectivity can suppress epidemic outbreaks.

Traffic congestion can reduce epidemic spread.

Abstract

Despite extensive work on the interplay between traffic dynamics and epidemic spreading, the control of epidemic spreading by routing strategies has not received adequate attention. In this paper, we study the impact of efficient routing protocol on epidemic spreading. In the case of infinite node-delivery capacity, where the traffic is free of congestion, we find that that there exists optimal values of routing parameter, leading to the maximal epidemic threshold. This means that epidemic spreading can be effectively controlled by fine tuning the routing scheme. Moreover, we find that an increase in the average network connectivity and the emergence of traffic congestion can suppress the epidemic outbreak.