Rabies control in the Republic of the Philippines: benefits and costs of elimination

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 9; no. 8; pp. 581 - 587
• Main Authors: Fishbein, Daniel B., Miranda, Noel J., Merrill, Peter, Camba, Rolando A., Meltzer, Martin, Carlos, Enrique T., Bautista, Consolacion F., Sopungco, P.V., Mangahas, Lydia C., Hernandez, Leda M., Leoncio, Marylin M., Mercado, Dolores, Gregorio, Susan, Salva, Eumelia, Dobbins, James G., Winkler, William G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.1991; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Costs and Cost Analysis; dog diseases; Dogs; elimination; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Microbiology; Philippines; programme; Rabies; Rabies - diagnosis; Rabies - economics; Rabies - epidemiology; Rabies - prevention & control; Rabies - veterinary; rabies vaccine; Rabies Vaccines; Vaccination - economics; Vaccination - veterinary; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies; Virology; Asia; Philippine Islands; Philippines; rabies vaccine; Rabies; cost-benefit analysis; Philippines; elimination; programme; dog diseases; Infection; Human; Viral disease; Animal; Vaccination; Economic study; Vaccine; Eradication; Cost benefit ratio
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/0264-410X(91)90246-3

We compared the benefits and costs of eliminating animal and human rabies in the Philippines. If rabies had been eliminated in 1988, economic benefits would total ▪52.8 (US$2.5) million in 1989. These benefits would largely arise from the abolition of expenses associated with rabies prevention: ▪29.7 (US$1.4) million for animal vaccination, ▪21.6 (US$1.0) million for human postexposure prophylaxis, and ▪0.3 (US$0.02) million for animal rabies examinations. Benefits also included ▪1.2 (US$0.06) million in additional earnings of humans whose death due to rabies would be prevented. Nationwide elimination was estimated to cost between ▪88.1 (US$4.2) million and ▪317.2 (US$15.0) million, assuming a canine-to-human ratio of 1:10, vaccine coverage of 60%, and a cost per vaccination of no less than ▪25 (US$1.19) and no more than ▪90 (US$4.27). These costs would be recouped 4.1–11.0 years after the initiation of a one-year elimination campaign. A sensitivity analysis showed that an elimination programme would be economically beneficial in all but the most extreme cases.