Time-dependent solution of the NIMFA equations around the epidemic threshold

The majority of epidemic models are described by non-linear differential equations which do not have a closed-form solution. Due to the absence of a closed-form solution, the understanding of the precise dynamics of a virus is rather limited. We solve the differential equations of the N-intertwined mean-field approximation of the susceptible-infected-susceptible epidemic process with heterogeneous spreading parameters around the epidemic threshold for an arbitrary contact network, provided that the initial viral state vector is small or parallel to the steady-state vector. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the solution around the epidemic threshold is accurate, also above the epidemic threshold and for general initial viral states that are below the steady-state.