Potential cost savings with terrestrial rabies control.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Disease Control

Background:

• Raccoon rabies control strategies, including oral rabies vaccination (ORV), are being evaluated for their cost-effectiveness.
• A pilot study was conducted in five New York State (NYS) counties over three years to quantify rabies-associated costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot test the collection of rabies cost data for initial quantification of potential cost savings from control programs.
• To provide data for economic modeling of ORV costs versus benefits.

Main Methods:

• Rabies costs reported to NYS from study counties were computerized.
• Costs were linked to a human rabies exposure database.
• Consolidated costs were averaged and compared by county and year.

Main Results:

• Total reported rabies-associated costs reached $2.1 million, primarily for human postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) (90.9%).
• Costs attributed to raccoon rabies control approximated 37% ($784,529).
• Average raccoon rabies variant costs per PEP ranged from $440 to $1,885, per specimen $14 to $44, and per pet vaccinated $0.33 to $15.

Conclusions:

• Rabies costs exhibit significant county-level variability in NYS, influenced by human population and cost estimation methods.
• This variability must be considered when estimating potential ORV cost savings.
• Study data on PEP, specimen, and pet vaccination costs can inform realistic economic models for ORV.