Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome in dynamical small-world networks

A dynamic network model for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemics was proposed. It was shown that the combined effects of superspreaders and their possible tendencies to haunt potential contagious places can amplify the spreads. The different dynamical consequences were contrasted according to different types of underlying network structure. The results also indicated that SARS propagated in small-world networks associated with human contacts. The biological nature of individuals and social group properties were found to be important factors that influenced the heterogeneous rates of social contacts among individuals.