Applications of Difference and Differential Equations in Epidemiology

Dear Colleagues,

Mathematical epidemiology plays a crucial role in understanding the spread, control, and mitigation of infectious diseases. Difference and differential equations serve as fundamental tools in modeling the dynamics of epidemics, providing insights into transmission patterns, disease progression, and intervention strategies. This Special Issue aims to explore the diverse applications of these mathematical frameworks in epidemiological research, with a focus on addressing emerging challenges and advancing our understanding of infectious disease dynamics.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions covering a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the following: 

• Integration of data-driven approaches, including statistical inference and machine learning, with mathematical models to improve epidemic forecasting and decision making. 
• Making disease transmission models more realistic by incorporating factors associated with socioeconomic status and social determinants of health.
• Enhancing insights into the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases via stochastic differential equations with a focus on the impacts of randomness and uncertainty induced by climate change.
• Modeling the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases using ordinary, delay, partial and/or stochastic differential equations to study disease spread within and between populations.
• Analysis of epidemic control measures, such as vaccination, quarantine, and social distancing, through modelling the influence of human behavior on the spread of infectious diseases.

By bringing together contributions from researchers working at the intersection of mathematics and epidemiology, this special issue aims to showcase recent advances, innovative methodologies, and practical applications in mathematical epidemiology. Contributions that address pressing public health challenges, such as emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness, are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Majid Bani-Yaghoub
Guest Editor

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• mathematical epidemiology
• difference equations
• differential equations
• infectious diseases
• stochastic differential equations
• transmission dynamics
• epidemic modeling
• intervention strategies
• spatial epidemiology
• network models