Epidemic threshold in structured scale-free networks

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Sep 2;89(10):108701. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.108701. Epub 2002 Aug 16.

Abstract

We analyze the spreading of viruses in scale-free networks with high clustering and degree correlations, as found in the Internet graph. For the susceptible-infected-susceptible model of epidemics the prevalence undergoes a phase transition at a finite threshold of the transmission probability. Comparing with the absence of a finite threshold in networks with purely random wiring, our result suggests that high clustering (modularity) and degree correlations protect scale-free networks against the spreading of viruses. We introduce and verify a quantitative description of the epidemic threshold based on the connectivity of the neighborhoods of the hubs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Social Behavior