Dynamics of Infectious Disease Spread and Health-related Behaviours

The COVID-19 pandemic again reminds us of the complex interplay between disease epidemiology and health-related beliefs and behaviours, which takes place in the context of dynamic social/contact networks. These interlinked processes pose a major challenge for infectious disease control as they may generate local vulnerabilities for (continued) epidemic potential and may sustain or even widen social inequities in health.

 The workshop aims to formulate an integrated conceptual model describing the link between beliefs, behaviour, networks, and transmission, building up from the individual level to the societal level. This will lay the foundations for future quantitative models that can further unravel these dynamics and inform policy, accounting for the fact that citizens are far from idealised rational agents.