Multipatch ZIKV Model and Simulations

TL;DR

This paper compares two multi-patch models for Zika virus spread based on an SIRUV framework, highlighting the importance of effective population size over patch population size, especially when inter-patch commuting is halted.

Contribution

It introduces a comparison of multi-patch Zika models and emphasizes the significance of using effective population size in modeling disease dynamics.

Findings

Effective population size is more accurate than patch population size when commuting stops.

Multi-patch models can replicate single patch dynamics under certain conditions.

Using effective population size improves model accuracy in disease spread simulations.

Abstract

In this article we compare two multi-patch models for the spread of Zika virus based on an SIRUV model. When the commuting between patches is ceased we expect that all the patches follow the dynamics of the single patch model. We show in an example that the effective population size should be used rather than the population size of the respective patch.