In the real world, new diseases emerge from complex environments. To learn more about how, scientists set up whole artificial ecosystems in the lab, instead of focusing on just one factor at a time.
To how many others will one infected person spread the infection?
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Epidemiologists want to quickly identify any emerging disease’s potential to spread far and wide. Dependent on a number of factors, this R0 number helps them figure that out and plan accordingly.
Whether by biology or behavior, some people in the crowd will transmit coronavirus to more than the average number of others.
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