Mining social mixing patterns for infectious disease models based on a two-day population survey in Belgium.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Until recently, mathematical models of person to person infectious diseases transmission had to make assumptions on transmissions enabled by personal contacts by estimating the so-called WAIFW-matrix. In order to better inform such estimates, a population based contact survey has been carried out in Belgium over the period March-May 2006. In contrast to other European surveys conducted simultaneously, each respondent recorded contacts over two days. Special attention was given to holiday periods, and respondents with large numbers of professional contacts.

Methods

Participants kept a paper diary with information on their contacts over two different days. A contact was defined as a two-way conversation of at least three words in each others proximity. The contact i

SUBMITTER: Hens N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2656518 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature