Modelos epidemiológicos en redes: una presentación introductoria

The purpose of this paper is to present the basic concepts of some epidemiological network models in an accurate, although introductory way. By taking into account the contact patterns between individuals, these models contrast with the sir model, in which transmission depends only on the density of individuals in each stage of the disease. We observe that the sir model overestimates the maximum of prevalence as compared to the complete network model, and that epidemics over more homogeneous networks present higher prevalence. In addition we used simulations to study the effect of the wave-like spread of infection induced by the reconnections present in a smallworld network model. Finally we mention some applications of network models in epidemiology.