SIRS Markov chain ($(S,I,R)\to (S-1,I+1,R),(S,I-1,R+1),(S+1,I,R-1)$)

In a closed population of size $n$, a frequency-dependent SIRS epidemic has the displayed transitions at rates $\lambda SI/n$, $\gamma I$, and $\nu R$. The exponential distribution of infectious lifetimes and the constant immunity-loss hazard make the compartment counts a continuous-time Markov chain. Each jump preserves $S+I+R=n$.

For convergent initial proportions, the scaled SIRS Markov chain converges uniformly in probability on each fixed finite interval to the solution of these equations. The Poisson time-change representation of a Markov chain writes it as its integrated drift plus centered Poisson errors. Bounded rates, Poisson concentration and the Gronwall inequality control the error. This finite-time limit does not by itself justify an approximation over time intervals growing with the population size.