Abstract
•I survey methods of incorporating space and movement into epidemiological models.•Spatial modeling can describe both migration and commuting, but those typically involve different types of models.•Relevant model types include patch models, reaction-diffusion models, and integro-differential models.•Movement can either increase or decrease the risk of an epidemic, depending on the details.
Host and/or vector movement patterns have been shown to have significant effects in both empirical studies and mathematical models of vector-borne diseases. The processes of economic development and globalization seem likely to make host movement even more important in the future. This article is a brief survey of some of the approaches that have been used to study the effects of host movement in analytic mathematical models for vector-borne diseases. It describes the formulation and interpretation of various types of spatial models and describes a few of the conclusions that can be drawn from them. It is not intended to be comprehensive but rather to provide sufficient background material and references to the literature to serve as an entry point into this area of research for interested readers.
