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--- 2019:groups:g6:start [2018/12/26 20:02] – prado
+++ 2019:groups:g6:start [2024/01/09 18:45] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 **Group 6**
-====== Transmission pathways of plague ======
+<html><font size=6 face="Arial">The multiple paths to plague outbreaks</font></html>
@@ Line 21: / Line 22: @@
 Many rodents are reservoirs of the
-plague bacillus //Yersinia pestis//, which is transmitted by fleas.
+bacteria that causes plague (//Yersinia pestis//).
-Therefore, urban outbreaks have been explained by the transmission of the
+Urban outbreaks have been explained by the transmission of the
 disease from infected rats to humans through flea bites.
 Nevertheless, this epidemiological model does not match some
@@ Line 41: / Line 42: @@
 For instance, there was a higher prevalence of blood-sucking
-bugs in humans ((the house flea and body, head and pubic lice))
+bugs in humans ((the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_flea|house flea]],
+and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_louse|body]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_louse|head]], and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_louse|pubic]] lice))
 at the time of the Black Death than in recent times.
 The human-to-human transmission by way
@@ Line 55: / Line 57: @@
 ===== Assigment =====
-Propose simple but realistic mathematical model(s) to describe the dynamics of plague epidemics. The model(s) should address at least one issue of the classic rat-flea-human model.
+Propose simple but realistic mathematical model(s) to describe the dynamics of plague epidemics. The model(s) should address at least one issue of the classic rat-flea-human model, taking into account alternative transmission pathways. Any other aspect that can help to address the issues is also welcome, such as acquired immunity (by humans or rats). Key parameters of your model should be well-grounded in the available knowledge about plague transmission and ecology of vectors and reservoirs.
+===== Suggested questions =====
-We expect that your solution takes into account alternative transmission pathways. Any other aspect that can help to address the issues is also welcome, such as acquired immunity (by humans or rats).
+  * Does your model predict single or recurrent epidemics? Why?
+  * Can the alternative pathway(s) you modeled explain (some of) the distinct patterns between recent and ancient plagues?
 ===== References =====