Comparing small world network and traditional models of Marburg virus disease

Abstract

Like Ebola, Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, belongs to the deadly Filovirus family of viruses. It is transmitted among humans when an individual comes into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. We model the spread of the Marburg virus disease u Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) epidemic model and a small-world network model. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends “community engagement as key to successfully controlling MVD outbreaks. Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, including infection prevention and control practices, surveillance and contact tracing and social mobilization". This paper highlights the need for a network based model over the traditional models to control the spread of MVD.