01359nas a2200157 4500000000100000008004100001260001000042653002100052653001700073653001900090100001800109700001400127245009600141520093900237022002501176 2025 d bWiley10aSchistosomiasis 10aTransmission10aWater Velocity1 aDoungsavanh B1 aMammeri Y00aOn the Role of Water Velocity in Schistosomiasis Transmission Via Progressive Wave Analysis3 a
In large river basins such as the Mekong, water velocity plays a crucial role in the transmission of schistosomiasis by transporting parasite larvae downstream, thereby extending the spatial reach of infection. Understanding how river flow shapes the spatial dynamics of disease transmission is essential for predicting reinfection risks and designing effective control strategies in hydrologically connected communities. This study presents a conceptual and theoretical framework for exploring the influence of water velocity on schistosomiasis spread. We formulate a spatially structured Ross–Macdonald‐type model that links human and snail infection prevalence through diffusion and advection processes. Analytical results show that infection can establish and propagate when the basic reproduction number exceeds one and the wave speed surpasses a critical threshold determined jointly by diffusion and flow velocity.
a0170-4214, 1099-1476