Abstract
We study the effect of the connectivity pattern of complex networks on the propagation dynamics of epidemics. The growth time scale of outbreaks is inversely proportional to the network degree fluctuations, signaling that epidemics spread almost instantaneously in networks with scale-free degree distributions. This feature is associated with an epidemic propagation that follows a precise hierarchical dynamics. Once the highly connected hubs are reached, the infection pervades the network in a progressive cascade across smaller degree classes. The present results are relevant for the development of adaptive containment strategies.
Keywords
complex networks, connectivity, containment, infectious disease, scale-free networks
Subject Categories
Epidemics, Communicable diseases
Disciplines
Physics
Publisher
American Physical Society
Publication Date
4-30-2004
Rights Information
©2004 American Physical Society
Rights Holder
American Physical Society
Permanent URL
Recommended Citation
Barthelemy, M; Barrat, A; Pastor-Satorras, R; and Vespignani, A, "Velocity and hierarchical spread of epidemic outbreaks in scale-free networks" (2004). Physics Faculty Publications. Paper 190. http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d20002150
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Notes
Originally published in Physical Review Letters, v.92 no.17 (2004), 178701. DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.178701. Dr. Vespignani is affiliated with Northeastern University as of the time of deposit.