Spatial structure: Partial differential equations models

Abstract

This chapter introduces some basic concepts and techniques in modeling spatial spread of diseases involving hosts moving randomly during certain stages of the disease progression. First we derive some reaction diffusion models using the conservation law and Fick's law of diffusion. We then discuss the usefulness of these models in describing disease spread rates and evaluating the effectiveness of some spatially relevant disease control strategies. We illustrate the general theory via two case studies, one about the spread of rabies in continental Europe during the period 1945-1985 and another about spread rates of West Nile virus in North America. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.