Wallace A.S., Masresha B.G., Grant G., Goodson J.L., Birhane H., Abraham M., Endailalu T.B., Letamo Y., Petu A., Vijayaraghavan M.
Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E05, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, World Health Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Congo; General Policy, Planning and Finance Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Operations Research Directorate, Regional Ministry of Health, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Awasa, Ethiopia
Wallace, A.S., Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E05, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Masresha, B.G., Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Congo; Grant, G., Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, World Health Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Goodson, J.L., Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E05, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Birhane, H., General Policy, Planning and Finance Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Abraham, M., Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, World Health Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Endailalu, T.B., General Policy, Planning and Finance Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Letamo, Y., Operations Research Directorate, Regional Ministry of Health, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Awasa, Ethiopia; Petu, A., Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Congo; Vijayaraghavan, M., Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E05, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States
Objective: To estimate the economic impact of a measles outbreak and response activities that occurred in Keffa Zone, Ethiopia with 5257 reported cases during October 1, 2011-April 8, 2012, using the health sector and household perspectives. Methods: We collected cost input data through interviews and record reviews with government and partner agency staff and through a survey of 100 measles cases-patients and their caretakers. We used cost input data to estimate the financial and opportunity costs of the following outbreak and response activities: investigation, treatment, case management, active surveillance, immunization campaigns, and immunization system strengthening. Findings: The economic cost of the outbreak and response was 758,869 United States dollars (US$), including the opportunity cost of US$327,545 (US$62.31/case) and financial cost of US$431,324 (US$82.05/case). Health sector costs, including the immunization campaign (US$72.29/case), accounted for 80% of the economic cost. Household economic cost was US$29.18/case, equal to 6% of the household median annual income. 92% of financial costs were covered by partner agencies. Conclusion: The economic cost of the measles outbreak was substantial when compared to household income and health sector expenditures. Improvement in two-dose measles vaccination coverage above 95% would both reduce measles incidence and save considerable outbreak-associated costs to both the health sector and households. © 2014.