Local epidemic control through mobility restrictions

Epidemic severity indices that incorporate disease information are essential tools for decision-makers, as these indices allow the design and evaluation of possible control strategies in advance of implementation in susceptible populations. In spatially structured settings, indices that consider human mobility provide valuable information on the spread of infectious diseases and the potential impact of mobility restrictions during outbreaks. In this context, the final epidemic size in metapopulation models serves as an effective measure of outbreak severity in geographical terms. However, the existence and uniqueness of the solution to the corresponding equation have only been established in particular cases. In this study, we derived conditions that guarantee the existence and uniqueness of the solution to the final epidemic size equation in a SIR-type metapopulation model. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis in a two-region, unidirectional infection scenario, which allowed us to examine the effects of mobility between an infected region and a susceptible one. Our results indicate that, under relatively simple conditions, restricting mobility can help contain outbreaks. However, we also identified situations in which mobility is not detrimental and may even be beneficial. These findings provide a preliminary framework for assessing the appropriateness of mobility restrictions during infectious disease outbreaks in spatially structured regions.