Searcharxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1301.3288

Approximating the epidemic curve

A. D. Barbour·Gesine Reinert
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Many models of epidemic spread have a common qualitative structure. The numbers of infected individuals during the initial stages of an epidemic can be well approximated by a branching process, after which the proportion of individuals that are susceptible follows a more or less deterministic course. In this paper, we show that both of these features are consequences of assuming a locally branching structure in the models, and that the deterministic course can itself be determined from the distribution of the limiting random variable associated with the backward, susceptibility branching process. Examples considered include a stochastic version of the Kermack & McKendrick model, the Reed-Frost model, and the Volz configuration model.

Explore related subjects

math.PR

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

A. D. Barbour, Gesine Reinert. 2013-01-15. Approximating the epidemic curve. https://arxiv.org/abs/1301.3288

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Averaging principles for nonautonomous multiscale stochastic Burgers equations with reflection

In this paper, we study averaging principles for nonautonomous multiscale stochastic Burgers equations with reflection. First, we derive a general averaging principle applicable to such equations under minimal assumptions. Subsequently, since the coefficients of the obtained averaged equation still depend on the small scaling parameter $\e$, we impose either periodic or asymptotic conditions on the coefficients, thereby obtain two distinct averaged equations whose coefficients are independent of $\e$ and establish two averaging principles. Stopping times and Khasminskii's time discretization schemes play an important role. Finally, a concrete example is provided to illustrate the applicability and validity of the theoretical results.

math.PR↗
arXiv2026

Spectral properties of Random Matrices

We give the theoretical foundations of random matrix theory through the definitions of a random matrix, a random probability measure and the corresponding empirical spectral distribution. The technical tool we use is the Stieltjes transform method through which we prove optimal convergence of the empirical spectral distribution of random sample covariance matrices to the deterministic Marchenko-Pastur distribution. We also give new results about the rigidity of the eigenvalues of this random sample covariance matrix and the rate of their convergence. We then define the Dyson equation method to prove new local laws about a random matrix model that interpolates between the Marchenko-Pastur distribution, the elliptical law and the circular law. Through our work these local laws can be considered universal.

math.PR↗
arXiv2026

Moments approach for the elephant random walk

We discuss the method of moments for the one-dimensional elephant random walk (ERW). We first derive a differential recurrence relation for the characteristic function of the ERW, which yields a corresponding system of recurrence relations for its moments. We then obtain asymptotic approximations for the moments in each of the three parameter regimes of the ERW. Finally, by establishing the convergence of the moments and verifying the corresponding moment-determinacy conditions, we identify the limiting distributions of the ERW in each regime.

math.PR↗