  In 2018, West Nile Virus (WNV) was detected for the first time in Germany.
Since the first detection, 36 human cases and 175 cases in horses and birds are
detected. The transmission cycle of West Nile Virus includes birds and
mosquitoes and -- as dead-end hosts -- people and horses. Spatial dissemination
of the disease is caused by the movements of birds and mosquitoes. While the
activity and movement of mosquitoes are depending mainly on temperature, in the
birds there is a complex movement pattern caused by local birds and long range
dispersal birds. To this end, we have developed a metapopulation network model
framework to delineate the potential spatial distribution and spread of WNV
across Germany as well as to evaluate the risk throughout our proposed network
model. Our model facilitates the interconnection amongst the vector, local
birds and long range dispersal birds contact networks. We have assumed
different distance dispersal kernels models for the vector and avian
populations with the intention to include short and long range dispersal. The
model includes spatial variation of mosquito abundance and the movements to
resemble the reality.
