Phys. Rev. E 69, 021906 (2004) [8 pages]

Outbreaks of Hantavirus induced by seasonality

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J. Buceta1, C. Escudero2, F. J. de la Rubia2, and Katja Lindenberg1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Institute for Nonlinear Science, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, USA
2Departamento de Física Fundamental, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, C/ Senda del Rey 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Received 27 March 2003; revised 24 August 2003; published 26 February 2004

Using a model for rodent population dynamics, we study outbreaks of Hantavirus infection induced by the alternation of seasons. Neither season by itself satisfies the environmental requirements for propagation of the disease. This result can be explained in terms of the seasonal interruption of the relaxation process of the mouse population toward equilibrium, and may shed light on the reported connection between climate variations and outbreaks of the disease.


©2004 The American Physical Society

URL: http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevE.69.021906
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.69.021906
PACS: 87.19.Xx, 87.23.Cc, 05.45.-a

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