Asymptomatic individuals can increase the final epidemic size under adaptive human behavior.

ABSTRACT: Infections produced by non-symptomatic (pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic) individuals have been identified as major drivers of COVID-19 transmission. Non-symptomatic individuals, unaware of the infection risk they pose to others, may perceive themselves-and be perceived by others-as not presenting a risk of infection. Yet, many epidemiological models currently in use do not include a behavioral component, and do not address the potential consequences of risk misperception. To study the impact of behavioral adaptations to the perceived infection risk, we use a mathematical model that incorporates the behavioral decisions of individuals, based on a projection of the system's future state over a finite planning horizon. We found that individuals' risk misperception in the presence of non-symp

SUBMITTER: Espinoza B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8492713 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature