Comparisons for carrier-borne epidemics in heterogeneous and homogeneous populations

Abstract

Two specific models for the spread of a carrier-borne epidemic are considered which allow for individual variability. The implications of differences in the infection or removal rates are investigated by comparing the propagation of the disease for heterogeneous and homogeneous populations. This is achieved by means of the stochastically larger and more variable order relations for random variables. The results obtained extend earlier ones and are illustrated with some numerical examples.