The SIS diffusion process in complex networks with independent spreaders

The dynamical process of epidemics has been a widely discussed topic in the study of complex networks and public health. While previous literature has focused mostly on the strict link-contagion through individual connections, the complex system in which diffusion dynamics takes place usually has many latent relations that could foster the spread process. Here we account for this phenomenon by investigating the epidemic SIS (Susceptible–Infected–Susceptible) with participation of independent spreaders. We derive the theoretical expressions of the dynamical systems and obtain the critical threshold of extensive diffusion, in both homogeneous and heterogeneous networks. We also perform a range of computational simulations, and show that the role independent spreaders play in such scenarios is huge by infecting remote areas in the network.