A transmission-limit inspired immunization strategy for weighted network epidemiology

Abstract

In this paper, we study a new type of immunization strategy which is applied to weighted networks. It helps us in maintaining the necessary network efficiency by limiting the transmission (lowering the weight of edges) while suppressing the spread of the epidemic. It is similar to the inflammation around the infected parts of our body, which can not only prevent the disease spreading but also protect the function of the body. First, we set the rate of transmission to be proportional to the edge weight based on the S-I epidemic spreading model. Then, we show the detailed dynamic evolution of the infected nodes which facilitates an effective epidemic control. Theoretical analysis and simulation results indicate that the new immunization strategy can be used to prevent the epidemic spreading effectively, while maintaining the high efficiency of the network.