Modeling the spread of an infectious disease with bacteria and carriers in the environment

Abstract

An SIS model with immigration for the spread of an infectious disease with bacteria and carriers in the environment is proposed and analyzed. It is assumed that susceptibles get infected directly by infectives as well as by their contacts with bacteria discharged by infectives in the environment. The growth rate of density of bacteria is assumed to be proportional to the density of infectives and decreases naturally as well as by bacterial interactions with susceptibles and carriers. The carrier population density is considered to follow the logistic model and grows due to conducive human population density related factors. It is assumed further that the number of bacteria transported by carriers to susceptibles is proportional to densities of both bacteria and carriers. The model study shows that the spread of the infectious disease increases due to growth of bacteria and carriers in the environment and disease becomes more endemic due to immigration. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.