Adaptive Human Behavior in Epidemics: the Impact of Risk Misperception on the Spread of Epidemics.

ABSTRACT: Infections produced by pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic (non-symptomatic) individuals have been identified as major drivers of COVID-19 transmission. Non-symptomatic individuals unaware of the infection risk they pose to others, may perceive themselves --and being perceived by others-- as not representing risk of infection. Yet many epidemiological models currently in use do not include a behavioral component, and do not address the potential consequences of risk misperception. To study the impact of behavioral adaptations to the perceived infection risk, we use a mathematical model that incorporates individuals' behavioral decisions based on a projection of the future system's state over a finite planning horizon. We found that individuals' risk misperception in the presence of asymptomat

SUBMITTER: Espinoza B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7924275 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature