The big bang of an epidemic

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Babazadeh, Yazdan, Safaeesirat, Amin, Ghanbarnejad, Fakhteh
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Babazadeh, Yazdan
Safaeesirat, Amin
Ghanbarnejad, Fakhteh
author_facet Babazadeh, Yazdan
Safaeesirat, Amin
Ghanbarnejad, Fakhteh
contents In this paper, we propose a mathematical framework that governs the evolution of epidemic dynamics, encompassing both intra-population dynamics and inter-population mobility within a metapopulation network. By linearizing this dynamical system, we can identify the spatial starting point(s), namely the source(s) (A) and the initiation time (B) of any epidemic, which we refer to as the "Big Bang" of the epidemic. Furthermore, we introduce a novel concept of effective distance to track disease spread within the network. Our analysis reveals that the contagion geometry can be represented as a line with a universal slope, independent of disease type (R0) or mobility network configuration. The mathematical derivations presented in this framework are corroborated by empirical data, including observations from the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran and the US, as well as the H1N1 outbreak worldwide. Within this framework, in order to detect the Big Bang of an epidemic we require two types of data: A) A snapshot of the active infected cases in each subpopulation during the linear phase. B) A coarse-grained representation of inter-population mobility. Also even with access to only type A data, we can still demonstrate the universal contagion geometric pattern. Additionally, we can estimate errors and assess the precision of the estimations. This comprehensive approach enhances our understanding of when and where epidemics began and how they spread, and equips us with valuable insights for developing effective public health policies and mitigating the impact of infectious diseases on populations worldwide.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_03703
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The big bang of an epidemic
Babazadeh, Yazdan
Safaeesirat, Amin
Ghanbarnejad, Fakhteh
Physics and Society
Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
In this paper, we propose a mathematical framework that governs the evolution of epidemic dynamics, encompassing both intra-population dynamics and inter-population mobility within a metapopulation network. By linearizing this dynamical system, we can identify the spatial starting point(s), namely the source(s) (A) and the initiation time (B) of any epidemic, which we refer to as the "Big Bang" of the epidemic. Furthermore, we introduce a novel concept of effective distance to track disease spread within the network. Our analysis reveals that the contagion geometry can be represented as a line with a universal slope, independent of disease type (R0) or mobility network configuration. The mathematical derivations presented in this framework are corroborated by empirical data, including observations from the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran and the US, as well as the H1N1 outbreak worldwide. Within this framework, in order to detect the Big Bang of an epidemic we require two types of data: A) A snapshot of the active infected cases in each subpopulation during the linear phase. B) A coarse-grained representation of inter-population mobility. Also even with access to only type A data, we can still demonstrate the universal contagion geometric pattern. Additionally, we can estimate errors and assess the precision of the estimations. This comprehensive approach enhances our understanding of when and where epidemics began and how they spread, and equips us with valuable insights for developing effective public health policies and mitigating the impact of infectious diseases on populations worldwide.
title The big bang of an epidemic
topic Physics and Society
Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.03703