Chimera states in multi-strain epidemic models with temporary immunity

Area of Science:

• Mathematical epidemiology
• Dynamical systems theory

Background:

• Multi-strain diseases with temporary immunity present complex dynamics.
• Time delays significantly influence epidemic models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a time-delayed epidemic model for multi-strain diseases.
• To analyze the impact of cross-immunity and coupling topologies on disease dynamics.
• To explore the emergence of complex behaviors like chimera states.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations were employed to study the model.
• Analysis included Hopf and saddle-node bifurcations.
• Investigated all-to-all and non-local coupling topologies.

Main Results:

• Individual strains exhibit limit cycle emergence/annihilation dependent on time delay.
• Cross-immunity induces diverse dynamical behaviors and synchronization patterns.
• Chimera states were observed, particularly with narrower cross-immunity kernels.

Conclusions:

• Time delays and cross-immunity are crucial factors in multi-strain disease dynamics.
• Complex phenomena like chimera states can arise in these systems.
• Findings have implications for understanding and managing multi-strain epidemics.