Cost–effectiveness analysis of pandemic influenza preparedness: what’s missing?

• Published in: Bulletin of the World Health Organization Vol. 90; no. 12; pp. 940 - 941
• Main Authors: Drake, Tom L, Chalabi, Zaid, Coker, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Genève Organisation mondiale de la santé 01.12.2012; World Health Organization; The World Health Organization
• Subjects: Antiviral Agents - economics; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Antiviral drugs; Bias; Biological and medical sciences; Cambodia; Cost analysis; Cost benefit analysis; Delivery of Health Care - organization & administration; Developing countries; Disaster Planning - economics; Disaster Planning - organization & administration; Disease control; Economics; Epidemics; Fatalities; General aspects; Health aspects; Health care; Human; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Influenza; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human - drug therapy; Influenza, Human - economics; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; LDCs; Low income groups; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Mortality; Pandemics; Perspectives; Pharmaceuticals; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk; Studies; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; Cambodia; Infection; Viral disease; Influenza; Preparation; Dragging; Tropical medicine; Public health; Cost efficiency analysis; Teaching; WHO
• ISSN: 0042-9686; 1564-0604; 1564-0604
• DOI: 10.2471/BLT.12.109025

Highly pathogenic pandemic influenza viruses pose a real if poorly defined risk to public health and economies. In 2003, a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus re-emerged and continues to circulate. The risk of viral mutation facilitating transmission from human to human and the resulting likelihood of a pandemic event have been the subject of much concern, debate and research. The field of economic evaluation for epidemic or pandemic preparedness planning is at a nascent stage. However, as the control of communicable disease progresses, preparedness measures for epidemic events become increasingly important because the decreased burden of communicable disease increases the number of susceptible individuals and hence the risk outbreaks. The objective of this paper is to suggest improvements to the methods and scope of economic evaluations surrounding pandemic influenza and other epidemic or pandemic events. The paper has been produced as part of a wider study on investment options for pandemic influenza preparedness in Cambodia.