Epidemiologic data suggest that schools and daycare facilities likely play a major rolein the dissemination of influenza. Pathogen transmission within such small, inhomogenouslymixed populations is difficult to model using traditional approaches. We developedsimulation based mathematical tool to investigate the effects of social contact networkson pathogen dissemination in a setting analogous to a daycare center or grade school. Herewe show that interventions that decrease mixing within child care facilities, includinglimiting the size of social clusters, reducing the contact frequency between socialclusters, and eliminating large gatherings, could diminish pathogen dissemination.Moreover, these measures may amplify the effectiveness of vaccination or antiviralprophylaxis, even if the vaccine is not uniformly effective or antiviral compliance isincomplete. Similar considerations should apply to other small, imperfectly mixedpopulations, such as offices and schools.
