Perspective on the spatio-temporal spread of epidemics in metapopulation networks

We review the recent progress of epidemic dynamics in metapopulation networks. Firstly, we give an introduction of the concepts about epidemic models and metapopulation network. Then, the theoretical characterization of epidemics spread in metapopulation networks is summed up. The measures of how to curb the spread of epidemics are summarized. The applications of inferring epidemic pathways based on epidemic data and reconstruction of epidemic transmission by phylogeographic are introduced. Finally, we present the outlooks about further research of epidemic dynamics on metapopulation networks.