Infectious disease control as network interventions

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were implemented globally to mitigate the spread of the infection. Most NPIs can be classified using Thomas Valente’s network intervention framework and its four categories: individuals, segmentation, induction, and alter...

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Main Authors: Akihiro Nishi, George Dewey, Michael Mengual, Hiroyasu Ando, Nicholas Cassol-Pawson, Akira Endo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-05-01
Series:Discover Social Science and Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-025-00217-1
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author Akihiro Nishi
George Dewey
Michael Mengual
Hiroyasu Ando
Nicholas Cassol-Pawson
Akira Endo
author_facet Akihiro Nishi
George Dewey
Michael Mengual
Hiroyasu Ando
Nicholas Cassol-Pawson
Akira Endo
author_sort Akihiro Nishi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were implemented globally to mitigate the spread of the infection. Most NPIs can be classified using Thomas Valente’s network intervention framework and its four categories: individuals, segmentation, induction, and alteration. However, the relationship of this framework and NPIs in the context of epidemics has not been thoroughly discussed. Therefore, we visualized NPI strategies operating during an epidemic using social network graphs and characterized each NPI with a corresponding hypothetical reproductive number to address this knowledge gap. We complement these visual aids with a glossary of technical terms used in infectious disease modeling that may be useful for scientists and policymakers. This discussion provides a concise summary that non-technical audiences can use to disseminate information to the public about the mechanism of action of various types of NPIs used during epidemics.
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spelling doaj-art-46dc47b9c7ea4f7abf52443d11ecaa322025-08-20T03:10:31ZengSpringerDiscover Social Science and Health2731-04692025-05-01511710.1007/s44155-025-00217-1Infectious disease control as network interventionsAkihiro Nishi0George Dewey1Michael Mengual2Hiroyasu Ando3Nicholas Cassol-Pawson4Akira Endo5Department of Epidemiology, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, University of CaliforniaMachine Intelligence Group for the betterment of Health and the Environment, Network Science Institute, Northeastern UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Epidemiology, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Epidemiology, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, University of CaliforniaSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of SingaporeAbstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were implemented globally to mitigate the spread of the infection. Most NPIs can be classified using Thomas Valente’s network intervention framework and its four categories: individuals, segmentation, induction, and alteration. However, the relationship of this framework and NPIs in the context of epidemics has not been thoroughly discussed. Therefore, we visualized NPI strategies operating during an epidemic using social network graphs and characterized each NPI with a corresponding hypothetical reproductive number to address this knowledge gap. We complement these visual aids with a glossary of technical terms used in infectious disease modeling that may be useful for scientists and policymakers. This discussion provides a concise summary that non-technical audiences can use to disseminate information to the public about the mechanism of action of various types of NPIs used during epidemics.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-025-00217-1Network interventionsSocial network analysisNon-pharmaceutical interventionsCOVID-19Respiratory infections
spellingShingle Akihiro Nishi
George Dewey
Michael Mengual
Hiroyasu Ando
Nicholas Cassol-Pawson
Akira Endo
Infectious disease control as network interventions
Discover Social Science and Health
Network interventions
Social network analysis
Non-pharmaceutical interventions
COVID-19
Respiratory infections
title Infectious disease control as network interventions
title_full Infectious disease control as network interventions
title_fullStr Infectious disease control as network interventions
title_full_unstemmed Infectious disease control as network interventions
title_short Infectious disease control as network interventions
title_sort infectious disease control as network interventions
topic Network interventions
Social network analysis
Non-pharmaceutical interventions
COVID-19
Respiratory infections
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-025-00217-1
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