title: Cost-effectiveness of influenza control measures: a dynamic transmission model-based analysis.
abstract: We investigated the cost-effectiveness of different influenza control strategies in a school setting in Taiwan. A susceptible-exposure-infected-recovery (SEIR) model was used to simulate influenza transmission and we used a basic reproduction number (R 0)-asymptomatic proportion (θ) control scheme to develop a cost-effectiveness model. Based on our dynamic transmission model and economic evaluation, this study indicated that the optimal cost-effective strategy for all modelling scenarios was a combination of natural ventilation and respiratory masking. The estimated costs were US$10/year per person in winter for one kindergarten student. The cost for hand washing was estimated to be US$32/year per person, which was much lower than that of isolation (US$55/year per person) and vaccination (US$86/year per person) in containing seasonal influenza. Transmission model-based, cost-effectiveness analysis can be a useful tool for providing insight into the impacts of economic factors and health benefits on certain strategies for controlling seasonal influenza.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: S-C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C-M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult