Cost–benefit analysis of controlling rabies: placing economics at the heart of rabies control to focus political will

Authors

Stephanie A. Shwiff, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
J. L. Elser, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
K. H. Ernst, USDA National Wildlife Research Center
S. S. Shwiff, Texas A&M UniversityFollow
A. M. Anderson, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Shwiff, S.A., J.L. Elser, K.H. Ernst, S.S. Shwiff, and A.M. Anderson. 2018. Cost-benefit analysis of controlling rabies: placing economics at the heart of rabies control to focus political will. OIE Scientific and Technical Review 37(2):681-689. doi: 10.20506/rst.37.2.2833

Comments

U.S. Government work

Abstract

Rabies is an economically important zoonosis. This paper describes the extent of the economic impacts of the disease and some of the types of economic analyses used to understand those impacts, as well as the trade-offs between efforts to manage rabies and efforts to eliminate it. In many cases, the elimination of rabies proves more cost-effective over time than the continual administration of postexposure prophylaxis, animal testing and animal vaccination. Economic analyses are used to inform and drive policy decisions and focus political will, placing economics at the heart of rabies control.