The effect of seasonal host birth rates on disease persistence

Citation

Ireland JM, Mestel BD & Norman R (2007) The effect of seasonal host birth rates on disease persistence. Mathematical Biosciences, 206 (1), pp. 31-45. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00255564; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mbs.2006.08.028

Abstract
In this paper, we add seasonality to the birth rate of an SIR model with density dependence in the death rate. We find that disease persistence can be explained by considering the average value of the seasonal term. If the basic reproductive ratio with this average value then the disease will persist and if with this average value then the disease will die out. However, if the underlying non-seasonal model displays oscillations towards the equilibrium then the dynamics of the seasonal model can become more complex. In this case the seasonality can interact with the underlying oscillations, resonate and the population can display a range of complex behaviours including chaos. We discuss these results in terms of two examples, Cowpox in bank voles and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in rabbits.

Keywords
Seasonality; cowpox; Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease; Season of birth; Vaccines; Disease Models, Animal

Journal
Mathematical Biosciences: Volume 206, Issue 1

People

Professor Rachel Norman

Chair in Food Security & Sustainability, Mathematics