Public health response to epidemics is not optimally modeled A public health response definition component is present in EpiFlex. Testing of this component, and more thorough review of literature, indicate that the method used is not optimal. Current public health responses are centered on contact tracing, ring vaccination and quarantine [34] , with mass vaccination as a backup when it is available. Closures of schools, daycare and travel restrictions are also used. These methods are not modeled in EpiFlex' response component. Their importance has recently been underscored by Lloyd-Smith et al. [17] . As a consequence, results from the current system that defines across-theboard cuts in the probability of infection should be considered in this light. It is not clear whether any other object system can model all current techniques properly.