An SIS patch model with variable transmission coefficients

In this paper, an SIS patch model with non-constant transmission coefficients is formulated to investigate the effect of media coverage and human movement on the spread of infectious diseases among patches. The basic reproduction number R-0 is determined. It is shown that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R-0 <= 1, and the disease is uniformly persistent and there exists at least one endemic equilibrium if R-0 > 1. In particular, when the disease is non-fatal and the travel rates of susceptible and infectious individuals in each patch are the same, the endemic equilibrium is unique and is globally asymptotically stable as R-0 > 1. Numerical calculations are performed to illustrate some results for the case with two patches. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.