  In this article, we present a modification to the network-based stochastic
SEIR epidemic model which allows for modifications to the underlying contact
network to account for the effects of quarantine. We also discuss the changes
needed to the model to incorporate situations where some proportion of the
individuals who are infected remain asymptomatic throughout the course of the
disease. Using a generic network model where every potential contact exists
with the same common probability, we conduct a simulation study in which we
vary four key model parameters (transmission rate, probability of remaining
asymptomatic, and the mean lengths of time spent in the Exposed and Infectious
disease states) and examine the resulting impacts on various metrics of
epidemic severity, including the effective reproduction number. We find that
the mean length of time spent in the Infectious state and the transmission rate
are the most important model parameters, while the mean length of time spent in
the Exposed state and the probability of remaining asymptomatic are less
important.
