A Bistable Phenomena Induced by a Mean-Field SIS Epidemic Model on Complex Networks: A Geometric Approach

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a degree-based mean-field SIS epidemic model with a saturated function on complex networks. First, we adopt an edge-compartmental approach to lower the dimensions of such a proposed system. Then we give the existence of the feasible equilibria and completely study their stability by a geometric approach. We show that the proposed system exhibits a backward bifurcation, whose stabilities are determined by signs of the tangent slopes of the epidemic curve at the associated equilibria. Our results suggest that increasing the management and the allocation of medical resources effectively mitigate the lag effect of the treatment and then reduce the risk of an outbreak. Moreover, we show that decreasing the average of a network sufficiently eradicates the disease in a region or a country.