Ismael R. Ortega-Sanchez1, Amy Poel
1, Tejpratap Tiwari
1, Margaret Cortese
1, Kris Bisgard
1, Benjamin Schwartz
1, Trudy Murphy
1, and Linda Gladden
2. (1) National Immunization Program, ESD, OD, Center for Disease Control, 1600 Corporate Square Boulevard, M/S E-61, Atlanta, GA, USA, (2) Communicable Disease/Immunization Program, Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 West Markham, Slot 48, Little Rock, AR, USA
KEYWORDS:
Outbreak, Economic Impact,
BACKGROUND:
In September 2001, in Murfreesboro (pop. 1,764) of Pike county (pop. 11,303) Arkansas, a large pertussis outbreak was identified. By early October, 113 cases (104 probable, 9 confirmed) were reported. The outbreak started among the junior and senior football teams in the local high school. Approximately 99 (41%) of 242 students in grades 7-12 reported an acute cough illness with the highest attack rates among students in the 9th grade. Following clinical criteria, 57% of the ill students reported paroxysmal coughing, 56% had cough for at least 14 days, and 37% reported post-tussive vomiting. Also 8 patients (7 teens and one two-year old child) had culture-confirmed for Bordetella pertussis. Three patients have been hospitalized with pertussis: one adult, one adolescent and one infant. Preliminary investigation found that 92% of 7-12 grade students received at least 4 doses of DTaP (with 70% having 5 doses). Seventy-three persons outside of grades 7-12 were suspect pertussis cases. Altogether, probable and confirmed cases numbered about 20 adults, 13 infants, and 80 adolescents.
OBJECTIVE(S):
To analyze impact of pertussis outbreak on the income/productivity and welfare of local families.
METHOD(S):
We conducted an economic survey among families with reported cases. Data collected include direct (medical and non-medical) and indirect costs at the household level. Indirect costs include family members time diverted from their normal activities for the case-patient care; such as for trips to clinics/ER visits, hospital stays, and childcare. We also analyze the economic burden of the disease in household contacts (confirmed and probable cases).
RESULT(S):
Medical and non-medical bills and time diverted from normal activities both to seek health services and care of oneself/case-patients may cause a substantial economic burden.
CONCLUSIONS(S):
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Unlike most economic analyses, we chose to characterize the economic impact of this outbreak on families in a rural community.
See more of The Economics of Implementing Immunization Protocols
See more of The 36th National Immunization Conference
