Impact of Social Heterogeneities in Epidemic Outbreaks

http://rocs.northwestern.edu/projects/social_heterogeneities.html
Impact of Social Heterogeneities in Epidemic Outbreaks
This article explains how compartment models are accurate in predicting epidemic outbreaks. The models presented on the link are based on two assumptions the first that the population is well mixed and transmission is triggered by a population- averaged contact rate. These models are able to model the spread of diseases such as SARS and STD’s. To understand the spread of these diseases one must also understand the influence of heterogeneity contact rates on. This contact rate can lead to and epidemic disease or an extinction of said disease.