When there is an outbreak of disease and observed that the disease quickly spreads in an area, it is hard to accurately describe or predict such phenomenon without the help of computer modeling. Computer simulations allow scientists to explain the way diseases spread in an area in detail that would not have been possible by simple observations and studies. This modeling, in fact, was used to help in the fight against infamous disease, including HIV, smallpox, and bird flu.

Computer modeling utilizes scientific computing, statistical data, and probability in designing such simulations. As one quoted in the article, “The big simulations could take ages, and they make lots of assumptions on the way populations mix,
which may be false.” For example, like how root finding algorithms such as Newton’s method and Secant method seeks to find a root by optimizing and increasing efficiency, thus calculating a root much faster than brute force method.

The article includes an example of a person who supposedly traveled more than 3000 airports and visited numerous places. If we were to compute and find some connection between more than a half million of such persons, it is nearly impossible to do computation using brute force method. Using mathematical softwares and utilizing efficient algorithms, scientists make predictions and find relationships to control and monitor disease spread, in addition to making predictions on how disease will spread, hence allowing effective preventive actions.

Reference:
http://www.scientific-computing.com/features/feature.php?feature_id=166