Stakeholder prioritization of zoonoses in Japan with analytic hierarchy process method

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Zoonotic diseases pose a significant threat, necessitating robust risk assessment strategies.
• Prioritizing zoonotic diseases is essential for effective public health interventions.
• Engaging diverse stakeholders in risk assessment can improve its relevance and utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a novel method for prioritizing 98 zoonoses in Japan.
• To integrate the perspectives of researchers, physicians, public health officials, and citizens in disease prioritization.
• To establish a framework for iterative risk assessment of zoonotic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Employed a combination of risk profiling and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).
• Risk profiling involved semi-quantitative analysis of existing public health data.
• AHP data was collected through questionnaires administered to four distinct stakeholder groups.

Main Results:

• Stakeholder priorities varied: researchers and public health officials emphasized case fatality, while physicians and citizens focused on diagnosis and prevention.
• Despite differing priorities, the top six ranked diseases showed significant consensus across all stakeholder groups.
• Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Ebola fever were identified as the top three prioritized zoonoses.

Conclusions:

• The developed method effectively prioritized zoonotic diseases by integrating diverse stakeholder viewpoints.
• Iterative risk assessment strategies are vital for managing emerging and re-emerging zoonotic threats.
• The findings provide valuable insights for public health policy and resource allocation in Japan and potentially other regions.