Lyapunov functions for SIR and SIRS epidemic models (Q963829)

The authors consider the planar system \[ \begin{aligned} {dI\over dt} &= (q-\beta I-\beta R)I,\\ {dR\over dt} &= \gamma I-\omega R\end{aligned}\tag{\(*\)} \] related to epidemic models. Let \(Q_*= (I_*, R_*)\) be a positive equilibrium of \((*)\). It is shown that \[ U(I,R):= I- I_*\ln I+ a(R- R_*)^2 \] with \(a:= \beta/2\gamma> 0\) is a Lyapunov function for \((*)\) implying that \(Q_*\) is asymptotically stable.