Simple Dynamics of Epidemics, the Reproduction Number

infection rate β

1.

recovery rate γ

0.1

In epidemiology, the basic reproduction number

R

0

is the expected number of new infections from a single infection in a population where all subjects are susceptible [1]. This metric is useful because it helps determine whether or not an infectious disease can spread through a population. When

R

0

<1

, the infection will die in the long run. But if

R

0

>1

, the infection will spread in the population. Generally, the greater the value of

R

0

, the harder it is to control the epidemic. This Demonstration solves a simple epidemic model and shows the conditions necessary for the outbreak of an infection to result in an epidemic.