Modeling the spread of multiple contagions on multilayer networks

Abstract A susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) model of multiple contagions on multilayer networks is developed to incorporate different spreading channels and disease mutations. Upper and lower bounds of basic reproductive numbers are derived and dynamic mutation processes are analyzed. In the special case where only two contagions are considered, analytical results are obtained for a multilayer network model, a competition model with arbitrarily many layers, and a compartmental model. The developed model and the obtained results may help understanding other spreading phenomena including communicable diseases, cultural characteristics, addictions, or information spread through e-mail messages, web blogs and computer networks.