Cost of illness due to Chikungunya during 2006 outbreak in a rural area in Tamil Nadu.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the burden of chikungunya in terms of financial and opportunity costs through a cross sectional survey from an affected area in Tamil Nadu.


METHODS
A survey of 809 households with a population of 4393 showed 59 individuals suffered from clinical symptoms of chikungunya. Using pre-tested questionnaire, information on the source of treatment, costs and income foregone were generated.


RESULTS
Both public and private health facilities were utilized by the patients. The per capita cost on treatment and average loss of income was Rs.223 and Rs.543 respectively. Extrapolation of this result to the entire village with 615 suspected cases showed estimates of Rs.1.38 and 3.35 lakhs towards treatment and productivity loss respectively. The cost saving per patient would be Rs. 59.93 if recommended line of treatment was followed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study justify the need for appropriate preventive measures with active surveillance support towards epidemic preparedness.
Nandha
B
B
Department of Health Economics, Vector Control Research Centre, Indiranagar, Pondicherry.
Krishnamoorthy
K
K
D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population