Mathematical model for the impact of awareness on the dynamics of infectious diseases

Abstract

This paper analyses an SIRS-type model for infectious diseases with account for behavioural changes associated with the simultaneous spread of awareness in the population. Two types of awareness are included into the model: private awareness associated with direct contacts between unaware and aware populations, and public information campaign. Stability analysis of different steady states in the model provides information about potential spread of disease in a population, and well as about how the disease dynamics is affected by the two types of awareness. Numerical simulations are performed to illustrate the behaviour of the system in different dynamical regimes.

Keywords: Disease awareness; Epidemic model.