DMC with Christine Yang '24

As a highly contagious respiratory illness, influenza presents significant public health challenges due to its rapid transmission and seasonal fluctuations. This research aims to explore the patterns of influenza spread in urban environments using random walk models, a statistical tool that represents a path consisting of a series of random steps. In this project, we will employ two-dimensional random walk simulations to model the spread of influenza in an urban setting. Each individual in the simulation is represented as an agent that moves randomly in a two-dimensional grid, mimicking real-life human movement patterns. We will begin by explaining the theory of the two-dimensional random walk. Subsequently, we will incorporate various factors such as contact rates, population density, and movement patterns derived from real-world data from sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO). The significance of this research lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of disease transmission in urban environments, leading to more effective public health interventions.