Pseudorabies virus infections in wild boar: data visualisation as an aid to understanding disease dynamics

Data from a 10-year study on the spread of pseudorabies virus (PrV) infections in wild boar populations were revisited. The visualisation of the data using a data movie instead of using traditional approaches for the first time enabled immediate observation of spreading infection in time and space. This dynamic perception of the spread drastically changes the understanding of the epidemiology of the virus. The paper demonstrates how data movies can account for the complete information contained within the data set. It is concluded that data movies can provide a more appropriate starting point. We recommend the data movie approach as an important addition in the epidemiological toolbox, because data movies can easily be integrated into the usual demonstration and publication process.