West Nile virus economic impact, Louisiana, 2002.
West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause illness in humans ranging from mild fever to encephalitis. In 2002, a total of 4,156 WNV cases were reported in the United States; 329 were in Louisiana. To estimate the economic impact of the 2002 WNV epidemic in Louisiana, we collected data from hospitals, a patient questionnaire, and public offices. Hospital charges were converted to economic costs by using Medicare cost-to-charge ratios. The estimated cost of the Louisiana epidemic was US 20.1 million dollars from June 2002 to February 2003, including a US 10.9 million dollars cost of illness (US 4.4 million dollars medical and US 6.5 million dollars nonmedical costs) and a US 9.2 million dollars cost of public health response. These data indicate a substantial short-term cost of the WNV disease epidemic in Louisiana.
Zohrabian
Armineh
A
Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. abz8@cdc.gov
Meltzer
Martin I
MI
Ratard
Raoult
R
Billah
Kaafee
K
Molinari
Noelle A
NA
Roy
Kakoli
K
Scott
R Douglas
RD
Petersen
Lyle R
LR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics; D004389:Durable Medical Equipment / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000191:economics; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology