Economic analysis of pandemic influenza mitigation strategies for five pandemic severity categories.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The threat of emergence of a human-to-human transmissible strain of highly pathogenic influenza A(H5N1) is very real, and is reinforced by recent results showing that genetically modified A(H5N1) may be readily transmitted between ferrets. Public health authorities are hesitant in introducing social distancing interventions due to societal disruption and productivity losses. This study estimates the effectiveness and total cost (from a societal perspective, with a lifespan time horizon) of a comprehensive range of social distancing and antiviral drug strategies, under a range of pandemic severity categories.

Methods

An economic analysis was conducted using a simulation model of a community of ~30,000 in Australia. Data from the 2009 pandemic was used to derive rel

SUBMITTER: Kelso JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3606600 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature