A method for detecting a trend change in cross-border epidemic transmissionis developed for a standard epidemiological SIR compartment model and ameta-population network model. The method is applicable to investigating theefficacy of the implemented public health intervention in managing infectioustravelers across borders from a time series of the number of new cases reportedin multiple geographical regions. It is found that the change point of theprobability of travel movements was one week after the WHO worldwide alert onthe SARS outbreak in 2003. The alert was effective in managing infectioustravelers. On the other hand, it is found that the probability of travelmovements did not change at all for the flu pandemic in 2009. The pandemic didnot affect potential travelers despite the WHO alert.
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