SI and SIS models

This topic describes the differential equations that govern the classic deterministic SI and SIS compartmental models and describes how to configure EMOD, an agent-based stochastic model, to simulate an SI/SIS epidemic. In SI models, people never leave the infectious state and have lifelong infections. For example, herpes is a disease with lifelong infectiousness.

The SI/SIS diagram below shows how individuals move through each compartment in the model. The dashed line shows how the model becomes an SIS (Susceptible - Infectious - Susceptible) model, where infection does not confer immunity (or there is waning immunity). Individuals have repeat or reoccurring infections, and infected individuals return to the susceptible state. For example, sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia fall into this group.

SI - SIS model

The infectious rate, \(\beta\), controls the rate of spread which represents the probability of transmitting disease between a susceptible and an infectious individual. Recovery rate, \(\gamma\) = 1/D, is determined by the average duration, D, of infection.

SI model

The SI model is the simplest form of all disease models. Individuals are born into the simulation with no immunity (susceptible). Once infected and with no treatment, individuals stay infected and infectious throughout their life, and remain in contact with the susceptible population. This model matches the behavior of diseases like cytomegalovirus (CMV) or herpes.

SI without vital dynamics

The dynamics of I in a SI model are also known as logistic growth. If there are no vital processes (birth and death), every susceptible will eventually become infected. The EMOD generic simulation uses an SEIR model by default. However, it can be modified to an SI model by turning off incubation and setting the infectious period to be longer than a human lifespan.

The SI model can be written as the following ordinary differential equation (ODE):

\[\begin{split}\begin{aligned} \frac{dS}{dt} & = -\frac{\beta SI}{N}\\ \frac{dI}{dt} & = \frac{\beta SI}{N} = \beta I \left(1-\frac{I}{N}\right) \end{aligned}\end{split}\]

where \(N = S + I\) is the total population.

The following graphs show the inset chart and charts for all channels in an SI simulation without vital dynamics. To run this example simulation, see the Generic/SI scenario in the downloadable EMOD scenarios folder and set Enable_Vital_Dynamics to 0. Review the README files there for more information.

Figure 1: SI outbreak showing logistic grown

Figure 2: All output channels for an SI outbreak

SI with vital dynamics

To add vital dynamics to a population, let \(\mu\) and \(\nu\) represent the birth and death rates, respectively, for the model. To maintain a constant population, assume that \(\mu = \nu\). Therefore, the ODE becomes:

\[\begin{split}\begin{aligned} \frac{dS}{dt} & = \mu N - \frac{\beta SI}{N} - \nu S\\ \frac{dI}{dt} & = \frac{\beta SI}{N} - \nu I \end{aligned}\end{split}\]

where \(N = S + I\) is the total population.

The final proportion of infected people is related to both the vital dynamics and \(\beta\). \(\beta\) can be calculated by looking at the steady state:

\[\mu = \nu = \frac{\beta S}{N} = \beta \left(1 - \frac{I}{N}\right)\]

The following graphs show the inset chart and charts for all channels in the Generic/SI scenario when vital dynamics remains on. The anticipated final epidemic size, \(I/N\), is 85%, and the birth and death rate equals 0.0000548 per day (2% per year). Therefore, \(\beta\) = 0.00003653.

Figure 3: SI outbreak approaching 85% infected population at steady state

Figure 4: All output channels for an SI outbreak with vital dynamics

SIS

Similar to the SIRS model, the infected individuals return to the susceptible state after infection. This model is appropriate for diseases that commonly have repeat infections, for example, the common cold (rhinoviruses) or sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea or chlamydia.

The generic simulation type uses an SEIR model by default. However, it can be modified to an SIS model by configuration no incubation period and no immunity. For more information, see Incubation and Immunity parameters.

SIS without vital dynamics

Because individuals remain susceptible after infection, the disease attains a steady state in a population, even without vital dynamics. The ODE for the SIS model without vital dynamics can be analytically solved to understand the disease dynamics. The ODE is as follows:

\[\begin{split}\begin{aligned} \frac{dS}{dt} & = -\frac{\beta SI}{N} + \gamma I\\ \frac{dI}{dt} & = \frac{\beta SI}{N} - \gamma I\\ \end{aligned}\end{split}\]

At equilibrium, solving:

\[\frac{dI}{dt} = \beta I \left(1-\frac{I}{N}\right) - \gamma I = 0\]

There are two equilibrium states for the SIS model, the first is \(I = 0\) (disease free state), and the second is:

\[I = \frac{(\beta - \gamma)N}{\beta} = \left(1-\frac{\gamma}{\beta}\right)N\]

For disease to spread, \(dI/dt > 0\). Therefore, similar to the previously described concept of the basic reproductive number, when \(\beta/\gamma > 1\), the disease will spread and approach the second steady state; otherwise, it will eventually reach the disease-free state.

The following graphs show the inset chart and charts for all channels in an SIS simulation without vital dynamics that eventually approaches steady state. You can compare the fraction of infected people with the anticipated value based on the previous calculation. If we have a reproductive number of 1.2, the infected fraction at equilibrium will be 1 - (1/1.2) ~ 17%.

To run this example simulation, see the Generic/SIS scenario in the EMOD scenarios zip file. Review the README files there for more information.

Figure 5: SIS outbreak approaching 17% infected population at steady state

Figure 6: All output channels for an SIS outbreak without vital dynamics

SIS with vital dynamics

To add vital dynamics to a population, let \(\mu\) and \(\nu\) represent the birth and death rates, respectively, for the model. To maintain a constant population, assume that \(\mu = \nu\). Therefore, the ODE becomes:

\[\begin{split}\frac{dS}{dt} & = \mu N -\frac{\beta S I}{N} + \gamma I - \nu S\\ \frac{dI}{dt} & = \frac{\beta S I}{N} - \gamma I - \nu I\end{split}\]