# Learning graph topology from metapopulation epidemic encoder-decoder

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.02349 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.02349/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 4 of its 50 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 2 Mar 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [Multiscale Dynamic Human Mobility Flow Dataset in the U.S. during the COVID-19 Epidemic](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2008.12238/) (2020)
- [Deep learning of contagion dynamics on complex networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.05410/) (2020)
- [Inferring Metapopulation Propagation Network for Intra-city Epidemic Control and Prevention](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1806.08978/) (2018)
- [MPSTAN: Metapopulation-based Spatio-Temporal Attention Network for Epidemic Forecasting](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.12436/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Metapopulation epidemic models are a valuable tool for studying large-scale outbreaks. With the limited availability of epidemic tracing data, it is challenging to infer the essential constituents of these models, namely, the epidemic parameters and the relevant mobility network between subpopulations. Either one of these constituents can be estimated while assuming the other; however, the problem of their joint inference has not yet been solved. Here, we propose two encoder-decoder deep learning architectures that infer metapopulation mobility graphs from time-series data, with and without the assumption of epidemic model parameters. Evaluation across diverse random and empirical mobility networks shows that the proposed approach outperforms the state-of-the-art topology inference. Further, we show that topology inference improves dramatically with data on additional pathogens. Our study establishes a robust framework for simultaneously inferring epidemic parameters and topology, addressing a persistent gap in modeling disease propagation.