Traffic-driven SIR epidemic spreading in networks

•We study traffic-driven SIR epidemic spreading in networks.•Homogeneous load distribution facilitates the epidemic spreading.•Large-degree nodes have dual effects on the epidemic spreading.•Traffic congestion blocks the epidemic spreading.

We study SIR epidemic spreading in networks driven by traffic dynamics, which are further governed by static routing protocols. We obtain the maximum instantaneous population of infected nodes and the maximum population of ever infected nodes through simulation. We find that generally more balanced load distribution leads to more intense and wide spread of an epidemic in networks. Increasing either average node degree or homogeneity of degree distribution will facilitate epidemic spreading. When packet generation rate ρρ is small, increasing ρρ favors epidemic spreading. However, when ρρ is large enough, traffic congestion appears which inhibits epidemic spreading.