Pulsating campaigns of human prophylaxis driven by risk perception palliate oscillations of direct contact transmitted diseases

Abstract

This paper studies the interplay between the spreading of an epidemic and the individual decision to protect oneself, where this decision is made according to the perceived risk associated to contracting the disease. The authors find this coupled system causes oscillations in the prevalence, and study two types of information campaigns (pulsating or continuous) to find the best policy to suppress such oscillations.

Topics & Concepts