Epidemic spreading on one-way-coupled networks

Numerous real-world networks (e.g., social, communicational, and biological networks) have been observed to depend on each other, and this results in interconnected networks with different topology structures and dynamics functions. In this paper, we focus on the scenario of epidemic spreading on one-way-coupled networks comprised of two subnetworks, which can manifest the transmission of some zoonotic diseases. By proposing a mathematical model through mean-field approximation approach, we prove the global stability of the disease-free and endemic equilibria of this model. Through the theoretical and numerical analysis, we obtain interesting results: the basic reproduction number R0 of the whole network is the maximum of the basic reproduction numbers of the two subnetworks; R0 is independent of the cross-infection rate and cross contact pattern; R0 increases rapidly with the growth of inner infection rate if the inner contact pattern is scale-free; in order to eradicate zoonotic diseases from human beings, we must simultaneously eradicate them from animals; bird-to-bird infection rate has bigger impact on the human’s average infected density than bird-to-human infection rate. •A new one-way-coupled network model is proposed, which is shown to be a good model to manifest the disease transmission of bird flu.•The basic reproduction number R0 of the whole network is the maximum of the basic reproduction numbers of the two subnetworks.•R0 is irrelevant to the cross-infection rate and cross contact pattern.•R0 increases rapidly with the growth of inner infection rate if the inner contact pattern is scale-free.•Bird-to-bird infection rate has bigger impact on the human’s average infected density than bird-to-human infection rate.