Spatial Pattern of an Epidemic Model with Cross-diffusion

Pattern formation of a spatial epidemic model with both self- and cross-diffusion is investigated. From the Turing theory, it is well known that Turing pattern formation cannot occur for the equal self-diffusion coefficients. However, combined with cross-diffusion, the system will show emergence of isolated groups, i.e., stripe-like or spotted or coexistence of both, which we show by both mathematical analysis and numerical simulations. Our study shows that the interaction of self- and cross-diffusion can be considered as an important mechanism for the appearance of complex spatiotemporal dynamics in epidemic models