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Travel distance, frequency of return, and the spread of disease
- Source :
- Scientific Reports, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2023)
- Publication Year :
- 2023
- Publisher :
- Nature Portfolio, 2023.
-
Abstract
- Abstract Human mobility is a key driver of infectious disease spread. Recent literature has uncovered a clear pattern underlying the complexity of human mobility in cities: $$r \cdot f$$ r · f , the product of distance traveled r and frequency of return f per user to a given location, is invariant across space. This paper asks whether the invariant $$r\cdot f$$ r · f also serves as a driver for epidemic spread, so that the risk associated with human movement can be modeled by a unifying variable $$r\cdot f$$ r · f . We use two large-scale datasets of individual human mobility to show that there is in fact a simple relation between r and f and both speed and spatial dispersion of disease spread. This discovery could assist in modeling spread of disease and inform travel policies in future epidemics—based not only on travel distance r but also on frequency of return f.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20452322
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Scientific Reports
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.5d70f02975b24c4db318a6a809097acd
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38840-0