Epidemiologic modeling using a microcomputer spreadsheet package

Epidemiologic modeling has provided both researchers and students with a means of studying complex disease processes as well as making intervention recommendations to decision makers. To develop more than the most elementary model, however, it has become necessary to be well versed in a computer programming language. While this has deterred many modelers in the past, with microcomputers it is now possible to develop even complex models without significant investment of time spent in learning a computer language. In addition to being affordable, many microcomputers offer "canned" spreadsheet packages which are readily adapted for epidemiologic modeling. To demonstrate this, two models were developed and run using a microcomputer spreadsheet package: 1) the classic Reed-Frost model, and 2) a modified Reed-Frost model with two intermixing subpopulations.