We've got some folks at my office working on pandemics on the modeling side.
General news article:
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN10446535Scientific source article:
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/105/12/4639The actual models are pretty cool. The image here is a representation of one Chicago resident's social interaction in one day.
https://www.vbi.vt.edu/public_relations/press_releases/chicago_pandemic_influenza_simulationThey are dynamic, meaning once you've set disease parameters you can play with it (close schools at first outset or one week later, etc.) and try to find the best course of action.