Analysis of A Spatially Inhomogeneous Stochastic Partial Differential Equation Epidemic Model

Abstract

This work proposes and analyzes a family of spatially inhomogeneous epidemic models. This is our first effort to use stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) to model epidemic dynamics with spatial variations and environmental noise. After setting up the problem, existence and uniqueness of solutions of the underlying SPDEs are examined. Then definitions of permanence and extinction are given. Certain sufficient conditions are provided for the permanence and extinction. Our hope is that this paper will open up windows for investigation of epidemic models from a new angle.