The Basic Reproduction Number of Infectious Diseases: Computation and Estimation Using Compartmental Epidemic Models

Gerardo Chowell () and Fred Brauer ()
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Gerardo Chowell: Arizona State University School of Human Evolution&Social Change
Fred Brauer: The University of British Columbia, Department of Mathematics

A chapter in Mathematical and Statistical Estimation Approaches in Epidemiology, 2009, pp 1-30 from Springer

Abstract: The basic reproduction number (R0) is a central quantity in epidemiology as it measures the transmission potential of infectious diseases. In this chapter we review the basic theory of the spread of infectious diseases using simple compartmental models based on ordinary differential equations including the simple Kermack-McKendrick epidemic model, SIR (susceptible-infectious-removed) models with demographics, the SIS (susceptible-infectious-susceptible) model, backward bifurcations, endemic equilibria, and the analytical derivation of R0 using the next-generation approach. This theory is followed by simple methodology for the estimation of R0 with its corresponding uncertainty from epidemic time series data. The 1918–1919 influenza pandemic in Winnipeg, Canada, and the 1968 influenza pandemic in US cities are used for illustration.

Keywords: Influenza; Pandemic; Epidemiology; Basic reproduction number; Model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-90-481-2313-1_1

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DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-2313-1_1

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