Oscillations in a patchy environment disease model (Q1005694)

The authors consider the following SIRS model for a single patch with a period of immunity of fixed length \(\tau\): \[ \begin{cases} S^{\prime}(t)=A-dS(t)-\beta S(t)I(t),&\\ I^{\prime}(t)=\beta S(t)I(t)-(\gamma+\varepsilon+d)I(t),& t\in [0,\tau],\\ R^{\prime}(t)=\gamma I(t)-dR(t),& \end{cases} \] \[ \begin{cases} S^{\prime}(t)=A-dS(t)-\beta S(t)I(t)+\gamma e^{-d\tau}I(t-\tau),&\\ I^{\prime}(t)=\beta S(t)I(t)-(\gamma+\varepsilon+d)I(t),& t>\tau,\\ R^{\prime}(t)=\gamma I(t)-\gamma e^{-d\tau}I(t-\tau)-dR(t),& \end{cases} \] where all parameters are assumed to be positive except \(\tau\) and \(\epsilon\) which are nonnegative. The existence and the asymptotic stability of the equilibria are discussed, and the basic reproduction number \(\mathfrak{R}_0\) is identified. The Hopf bifurcation at the endemic equilibrium \((S^*,T^*,R^*)\) is also considered. Moreover, a practical numerical approach to locate the bifurcation value for a characteristic equation depending on time delay is provided. A similar work was done for a model on two patches situation.