KENDRICK: A Domain Specific Language and platform for mathematical epidemiological modelling

Mathematical modelling of infectious diseases often uses simulation models in order to explore transmission mechanisms and to plan potential management strategies to control the epidemics. However, bridging the gap between the conceptual model of epidemiology and its simulation on computer can lead to some issues related to the lack of expressiveness of implemented models and their reusability and adaptability to new circumstances due to detail computer instructions in General-purpose Programming Languages (GPLs). In this paper, we propose to develop a Domain Specific Language (DSL) for expressively specifying mathematical models of epidemiology and to construct a flexible simulation environment for investigating them. We then use our proposed approach to experiment the measles model in different epidemiological aspects. Our platform is also validated through statistical comparisons between time series generated and theoretical expectations, consequently keeping the link with literature on mathematical epidemiology.