The Economics of a Successful Raccoon Rabies Elimination Program on Long Island, New York

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases 2016-12, Vol.10 (12), p.e0005062-e0005062
• Main Authors: Elser, Julie L, Bigler, Laura L, Anderson, Aaron M, Maki, Joanne L, Lein, Donald H, Shwiff, Stephanie A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Animal control; Animals; Benefit cost analysis; Biology and Life Sciences; Care and treatment; Case studies; Cost benefit analysis; Cost of Illness; Disease; Disease Eradication - economics; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Economic aspects; Economic impact; Economic models; Economics; Epidemiological Monitoring; Funding; GDP; Gross Domestic Product; Health aspects; Health care costs; Health services; Health surveillance; Immunization Programs - economics; Immunization Programs - standards; Immunization Programs - statistics & numerical data; Laboratories; Macroeconomics; Medicine and Health Sciences; New York - epidemiology; People and places; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; Prophylaxis; Public health; Rabies; Rabies - epidemiology; Rabies - prevention & control; Rabies - veterinary; Rabies - virology; Rabies Vaccines - administration & dosage; Rabies Vaccines - economics; Raccoons; Risk factors; Social Sciences; Tropical diseases; Vaccination; Vaccination - economics; Veterinary colleges; Veterinary medicine; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005062

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.