[Direct costs of the dengue fever control and prevention program in 2005 in the City of São Paulo].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the direct costs associated with the control of Aedes aegypti and prevention of dengue fever in the City of São Paulo Dengue Control Program, Brazil, in 2005.


METHODS
The following items were considered: human resources, uniforms, field materials, individual protection equipment, spraying equipment, strategic supplies (insecticides and larvicides), and vehicles. The costs associated with laboratory tests for entomological surveillance and dengue fever diagnosis were also calculated, as well as costs relating to information and printed materials for educational campaigns.


RESULTS
The total direct costs of the City of São Paulo Dengue Fever Program in 2005 were R$ 21,774,282.82 (US$ 12,486,941.34 considering the dollar/real exchange rate in December 2009). Of this amount, 59.4% were directed to human resources, 38.3% to epidemic control measures, and 2.2% to capital expenditure. The cost per capita was R$ 1.99 in 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
The control of dengue fever is essential given the growth of epidemics. Knowledge about the costs of strategies and priority items employed in dengue fever control and prevention programs can guide decision-making regarding the application of budget resources in both the City of São Paulo and Brazil as a whole.
Taliberti
Helena
H
Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
Zucchi
Paola
P
D001938:Brazil; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003715:Dengue / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D014504:Urban Health