Bifurcation analysis of an SIRS epidemic model with a generalized nonmonotone and saturated incidence rate (Q2415295)

This paper studies an SIRS epidemiological model in which the incidence rate (probability of infection of a susceptible individual per unit time) is given as a function of the infected population $I$, of the form $g(I)=\frac{kI^2}{1+\beta I+\alpha I^2 }$. This functional form allows a hump-shaped dependence of the incidence rate on the infected population, and is aimed at modeling psychological effects due to which an increase in the prevalence of the disease can lead to heightend awareness and avoidance of infective contact. The dynamics of the resulting system, in dependence on the parameters, is analyzed, showing a variety of behaviors including coexistence of steady states and multiple limit cycles, and bifurcations of saddle-node, Bogdanov-Takens, and Hopf.