A viral load-based model for epidemic spread on spatial networks (Q2092028)

This paper studies a viral load-based model for epidemic spread on spatial networks. Non-compartmental evolutionary models have been proposed in terms of the density of individuals in each node of the network as well as the mean viral load. The paper adopts a statistical mechanics point of view through Boltzmann-type kinetic equations, which enables to postulate elementary viral load transmission dynamics within the nodes and migration dynamics across the nodes and to upscale them to get the aggregate macroscopic description. The large-time trends of the relevant quantities are analyzed. The conditions for the infection being globally eradicated or blown up are derived. Based on the basic model, the work further considers the possibility to put node-wise in isolation individuals diagnosed as infected. Some numerical tests of case studies have also been performed.