Social contacts and mixing patterns relevant to the spread of infectious diseases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mathematical modelling of infectious diseases transmitted by the respiratory or close-contact route (e.g., pandemic influenza) is increasingly being used to determine the impact of possible interventions. Although mixing patterns are known to be crucial determinants for model outcome, researchers often rely on a priori contact assumptions with little or no empirical basis. We conducted a population-based prospective survey of mixing patterns in eight European countries using a common paper-diary methodology.

Methods and findings

7,290 participants recorded characteristics of 97,904 contacts with different individuals during one day, including age, sex, location, duration, frequency, and occurrence of physical contact. We found that mixing patterns and contact char

SUBMITTER: Mossong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2270306 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature