Threshold of Effective Degree SIR Model

Abstract

The effective degree SIR model is a precise model for the SIR disease dynamics on a network. The original ODE model is only applicable for a network with finite degree distributions. The new generating function approach rewrites with model as a PDE and allows infinite degree distributions. In this paper, we first prove the existence of a global solution. Then we analyze the linear and nonlinear stability of the disease-free steady state of the PDE effective degree model, and show that the basic reproduction number still determines both the linear and the nonlinear stability. Our method also provides a new tool to study the effective degree SIS model, whose basic reproduction number has been elusive so far.