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Estimating the Cost of Raccoon Rabies Variant in Ohio

Durbak, Leah M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406108318

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Public Health, Ohio State University, Public Health.
Raccoon rabies variant (RRV) virus has spread north and west since its introduction to the Virginia/West Virginia border in the late 1970s following the translocation of rabid raccoons from Florida for hunting purposes [60]. In Ohio, the westward spread of RRV has been halted along the Pennsylvania border in northeast Ohio by an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program 1997 [30]. Given that the immune barrier could be breached, this research aims to estimate the financial impact RRV spread could have on Ohio by extrapolating from the economic experiences of other states that have dealt with an RRV epizootic. Following a literature review of rabies cost models reported in the literature, three broad categories were considered for RRV costs in Ohio [51]. The first category was comprised of public health prevention activities, such as disease surveillance, diagnostic testing and public education campaigns. Secondly, healthcare costs associated with RRV spread were determined to consist of direct (post-exposure prophylaxis biologicals and administration) and indirect (travel, lost wages, childcare healthcare and alternative treatment) costs related to RRV exposure. The third economic category encompassed animal associated costs including companion and livestock vaccination as well as livestock indemnity fees. Once the baseline costs for each input and the expected rate increases due to RRV spread were selected from published resources, a spatial spread model for RRV expansion throughout Ohio was derived. Considering Ohio’s topography and the rate of RRV movement through other states, RRV could be expected to cover the state between three and six years after an uncontrolled breach of the ORV barrier. Expenses associated with the variant were calculated using low and high cost estimates using these two timeframes of potential RRV spread, resulting in four cost models. The results from these models estimate the total additional cost due to RRV spread throughout Ohio between $44.3 to $337.7 million during the initial epizootic years. The three major categories considered in this project held similar proportions of the total cost in all four models that were considered. In the low estimation models, public health costs account for roughly 22% of the total cost and animal associated costs for approximately 19%. In the high estimation models, public health expenses accounted for 4% and animal associated costs were about 39% of the total costs. All possible costs attributable to RRV spread could not be included in these models as many cannot or have not been quantified. Nonetheless, the results from this study demonstrate that the economic impact of RRV spread throughout Ohio would be unquestionably widespread and significant. Evaluation of the various cost subcategories, can aid during strategic planning for RRV incursions by providing insight into the areas most amenable to mitigation efforts. For example, education of healthcare providers may reduce the impact of the largest category, healthcare costs, by reducing the inappropriate use of PEP. These results will also help inform local, state and federal policy makers as they make budgetary decisions regarding rabies prevention and ORV programs.
Hoet Armando (Advisor)
Jeanette O'Quin (Committee Member)
Pennell Michael (Committee Member)
103 p.
Economics; Public Health; Wildlife Management
raccoon rabies variant, sylvatic rabies cost, ORV

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Durbak, L. M. (2014). Estimating the Cost of Raccoon Rabies Variant in Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406108318

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Durbak, Leah. Estimating the Cost of Raccoon Rabies Variant in Ohio. 2014. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406108318.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Durbak, Leah. "Estimating the Cost of Raccoon Rabies Variant in Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406108318

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1406108318
666
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.