Distributed Algorithm for Suppressing Epidemic Spread in Networks

Published

June 4, 2018

Author(s)

Van Sy Mai, Abdella Battou, Kevin L. Mills

Abstract

This paper considers problems related to suppressing epidemic spread over networks given limited curing resources. The spreading dynamic is captured by a susceptible-infected- susceptible model. The epidemic threshold and recovery speed are determined by the contact network structure and the heterogeneous infection and curing rates. We develop a distributed algorithm that can be used for allocating curing resources to meet three potential objectives: minimize total curing cost while preventing an epidemic; maximize recovery speed given sufficient curing resources; or given insufficient curing resources, limit the size of an endemic state. The distributed algorithm is of the Jacobi type, and converges geometrically. We prove an upper bound on the convergence rate; the bound depends on the structure and infection rates of the underlying network. Numerical simulations illustrate the efficiency and scalability of our distributed algorithm.

Citation

IEEE Control Systems Letters

Volume

2

Issue

3

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1109/LCSYS.2018.2844118

Keywords

distributed optimization, epidemic spreading, complex networks, networked control systems

Citation

, V. , Battou, A. and Mills, K. (2018), Distributed Algorithm for Suppressing Epidemic Spread in Networks, IEEE Control Systems Letters, [online], https://doi.org/10.1109/LCSYS.2018.2844118 (Accessed April 30, 2025)