title: The Economics of a Successful Raccoon Rabies Elimination Program on Long Island, New York.
abstract: Raccoon rabies is endemic in the eastern U.S.; however, an epizootic had not been confirmed on Long Island, New York until 2004. An oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program was initiated soon after the first rabies-positive raccoon was discovered, and continued until raccoon rabies was eliminated from the vaccination zone. The cost-effectiveness and economic impact of this rabies control program were unknown. A public health surveillance data set was evaluated following the ORV program on Long Island, and is used here as a case study in the health economics of rabies prevention and control efforts. A benefit-cost analysis was performed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the program, and a regional economic model was used to estimate the macroeconomic impacts of raccoon rabies elimination to New York State. The cost of the program, approximately $2.6 million, was recovered within eight years by reducing costs associated with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and veterinary diagnostic testing of rabies suspect animals. By 2019, the State of New York is projected to benefit from the ORV program by almost $27 million. The benefit-cost ratio will reach 1.71 in 2019, meaning that for every dollar spent on the program $1.71 will be saved. Regional economic modeling estimated employment growth of over 100 jobs and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase of $9.2 million through 2019. This analysis suggests that baiting to eliminate rabies in a geographically constrained area can provide positive economic returns.
authors.affiliation: USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Elser
authors.affiliation: New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Bigler
authors.affiliation: USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Aaron M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Merial Inc., Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Joanne L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.affiliation: New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lein
authors.affiliation: USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shwiff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000191:economics*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D011821:Raccoons; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines