Infectious disease models with time-varying parameters and general nonlinear incidence rate

Abstract

Infectious disease models with time-varying parameters and general nonlinear incidence rates are analyzed. The functional form of the nonlinear incidence rate is assumed to change in time, due to, for example, environmental factors or a change in population behavior. More specifically, a new SIR model with time-varying parameters and switched nonlinear incidence rate is studied. The stability of the disease-free equilibrium is investigated, as well as disease persistence in the endemic case. A switched epidemic model with generalized compartments and time-varying parameters is also proposed and analyzed. Pulse vaccination and pulse treatment are applied to the new SIR model with seasonality and switched incidence rate. A control strategy with vaccine failure is applied to the switched epidemic model with generalized compartments. The control strategies are analyzed to determine their success in eradicating the disease. Some examples are given, with simulations, to illustrate the threshold conditions found.