The effect of time delay on the dynamics of an SEIR model with nonlinear incidence

In this paper, a SEIR epidemic model with nonlinear incidence rate and time delay is investigated in three cases. The local stability of an endemic equilibrium and a disease-free equilibrium are discussed using stability theory of delay differential equations. The conditions that guarantee the asymptotic stability of corresponding steady-states are investigated. The results show that the introduction of a time delay in the transmission term can destabilize the system and periodic solutions can arise through Hopf bifurcation when using the time delay as a bifurcation parameter. Applying the normal form theory and center manifold argument, the explicit formulas determining the properties of the bifurcating periodic solution are derived. In addition, the effect of the inhibitory effect on the properties of the bifurcating periodic solutions is studied. Numerical simulations are provided in order to illustrate the theoretical results and to gain further insight into the behaviors of delayed systems.