A SIRS epidemic model with infection-age dependence

Based on J. Mena-Lorca and H.W. Hethcote’s epidemic model, a SIRS epidemic model with infectionage- dependent infectivity and general nonlinear contact rate is formulated. Under general conditions, the unique existence of its global positive solutions is obtained. Moreover, under more general assumptions than the existing, the existence and asymptotical stability of its equilibria are discussed. In the end, the condition on the stability of endemic equilibrium is verified by a special model. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.