Contact Info
Department of Applied Mathematics
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32700
Fax: 519-746-4319
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader
MC 6460
Joe Pharaon , Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo
How does social behavior influence the evolution of pathogen virulence?
From historic pandemics like the bubonic plague to the more recent
outbreaks of the Zika virus, human behaviour continues to influence
the course of disease spread. The severity of an emerging pathogen,
known as virulence, is perhaps one of the very first indicators public
health officials attempt to quantify. Research continues to address
the connection between social behaviour and the emergence of pathogen
and its severity, yet it neglects an essential point: an evolving
behaviour. We propose to extend models in epidemiology by considering
a new variable describing changes in behaviour, that is coupled with
the epidemiological processes. Our preliminary results suggest that
proper behaviour can attenuate outbreak intensities and in some cases
completely prevent them.
Contact Info
Department of Applied Mathematics
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32700
Fax: 519-746-4319
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.