Behavior changes influence mpox transmission in the United States, 2022-2023: Insights from homogeneous and heterogeneous models.

ABSTRACT: In 2022, an unprecedented mpox epidemic rapidly swept the globe, primarily transmitted through sexual contact among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, our understanding of how changes in human behavior influence this outbreak remains incomplete. In this study, we introduce a two-layer network model to investigate the impact of human behavior on mpox transmission within the United States during 2022-2023, leveraging surveillance data. We theoretically explore mpox transmission under behavioral changes using homogeneous and heterogeneous mean-field approximations. While the heterogeneous model captures differences in individual behavior, its variations do not significantly affect the overall spread, validating the feasibility of using only homogeneous models to study behavioral change

SUBMITTER: Zhang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11803423 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature