Numerical study of an influenza epidemic model with diffusion

A diffusive epidemic model is investigated with a view to describe the transmission of influenza as an epidemic. The equations are solved numerically using the splitting method under different initial distribution of population density. It is shown that the initial population distribution and diffusion play an important role for spread of disease. It is also shown that interventions (medical and nonmedical) significantly slow down the spread of disease. Stability of equilibria of the numerical solutions are also established. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.