Human Mobility Networks, Travel Restrictions, and the Global Spread of 2009 H1N1 Pandemic

In spite of travel-related controls during the early stage of the 2009 H1N1 influenza, the virus was able to reach pandemic proportions in a short time. 24.08.2011 The authors of this article provide a quantitative discussion of the delay obtained by different mobility restrictions and the likelihood of containing outbreaks of infectious diseases at their source, confirming the limited value and feasibility of international travel restrictions. Bajardi P, Poletto C, Ramasco JJ, Tizzoni M, Colizza V, et al. (2011) Human Mobility Networks, Travel Restrictions, and the Global Spread of 2009 H1N1 Pandemic. PLoS ONE 6(1): e16591. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016591