Nature of the Epidemic Threshold for the Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible Dynamics in Networks

Marian Boguñá, Claudio Castellano, and Romualdo Pastor-Satorras
Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 068701 – Published 7 August 2013
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Abstract

We develop an analytical approach to the susceptible-infected-susceptible epidemic model that allows us to unravel the true origin of the absence of an epidemic threshold in heterogeneous networks. We find that a delicate balance between the number of high degree nodes in the network and the topological distance between them dictates the existence or absence of such a threshold. In particular, small-world random networks with a degree distribution decaying slower than an exponential have a vanishing epidemic threshold in the thermodynamic limit.

  • Figure
  • Received 21 May 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.068701

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Marian Boguñá1, Claudio Castellano2,3, and Romualdo Pastor-Satorras4

  • 1Departament de Física Fonamental, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
  • 2Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi (ISC-CNR), via dei Taurini 19, I-00185 Roma, Italy
  • 3Dipartimento di Fisica, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
  • 4Departament de Física i Enginyeria Nuclear, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Campus Nord B4, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

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Issue

Vol. 111, Iss. 6 — 9 August 2013

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