Publication
Title
Contact patterns and their implied basic reproductive numbers: an illustration for varicella-zoster virus
Author
Abstract
The WAIFW matrix (Who Acquires Infection From Whom) is a central parameter in modelling the spread of infectious diseases. The calculation of the basic reproductive number (R0) depends on the assumptions made about the transmission within and between age groups through the structure of the WAIFW matrix and different structures might lead to different estimates for R0 and hence different estimates for the minimal immunization coverage needed for the elimination of the infection in the population. In this paper, we estimate R0 for varicella in Belgium. The force of infection is estimated from seroprevalence data using fractional polynomials and we show how the estimate of R0 is heavily influenced by the structure of the WAIFW matrix.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Epidemiology and infection. - London, 1987, currens
Publication
London : 2009
ISSN
0950-2688 [print]
1469-4409 [online]
DOI
10.1017/S0950268808000563
Volume/pages
137 :1 (2009) , p. 48-57
ISI
000262067800005
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 16.01.2009
Last edited 25.05.2022
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