Understanding networks is essential for several reasons:
- Transmission Dynamics: Networks help in understanding how diseases spread through populations. For example, in a densely connected social network, a disease can spread more rapidly compared to a sparsely connected one.
- Intervention Design: By identifying key nodes or individuals within a network, targeted interventions such as vaccination, quarantine, or education campaigns can be more effectively deployed.
- Predictive Modeling: Networks allow for the creation of mathematical models that can predict the spread of diseases under various scenarios, aiding in preparedness and response planning.
