New model means parasites can run, but they can’t hide

In order to cause a successful disease outbreak, viruses, bacteria and other parasites must be able to spread both inside and outside the host. Inside the host, this entails multiplying and evading the immune system, while success outside the host revolves around survival and spreading to new hosts. All infectious diseases utilise these same processes, but some pathogens can combine them in such a way that it becomes much more difficult to predict how the parasite population will react to factors such as control measures. In her doctoral dissertation, Maite Severins described mathematical and computer models that may help scientists to better understand these difficult diseases.