Economic Cost Analysis of West Nile Virus Outbreak, Sacramento County, California, USA, 2005

摘要

In 2005, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) disease occurred in Sacramento County, California; 163 human cas-es were reported. In response to WNV surveillance indicat-ing increased WNV activity, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District conducted an emergency aerial spray. We determined the economic impact of the outbreak, including the vector control event and the medical cost to treat WNV disease. WNV disease in Sacramento County cost ≈ $2.28 million for medical treatment and patients' pro-ductivity loss for both West Nile fever and West Nile neuro-invasive disease. Vector control cost ≈$701,790, including spray procedures and overtime hours. The total economic impact of WNV was $2.98 million. A cost-benefi t analysis indicated that only 15 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive dis-ease would need to be prevented to make the emergency spray cost-effective