Small world networks improve upon the rigid structure of the lattice by allowing a low number of random contacts across the entire space (Figure 1(e) ). Such long range contacts allow infection to spread rapidly though the population and vastly reduce the shortest path length between individuals [74] -this is popularly known as six degrees of separation from the concept that any two individuals on the planet are linked through at most six friends or contacts [75] . Therefore, small world networks offer a step towards reality, capturing the local nature of transmission and the potential for long-range contacts [76, 77] ; however, they suffer from neglecting heterogeneity in the number of contacts and the tight clustering of contacts within households or social settings.