The economic impact of a bioterrorist attack: are prevention and postattack intervention programs justifiable?

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Kaufmann, A. F. ; Meltzer, M. I. ; Schmid, G. P.
• Description:
  Understanding and quantifying the impact of a bioterrorist attack are essential in developing public health preparedness for such an attack. We constructed a model that compares the impact of three classic agents of biologic warfare (Bacillus anthracis, Brucella melitensis, and Francisella tularensis) when released as aerosols in the suburb of a major city. The model shows that the economic impact of a bioterrorist attack can range from an estimated $477.7 million per 100,000 persons exposed (brucellosis scenario) to $26.2 billion per 100,000 persons exposed (anthrax scenario). Rapid implementation of a postattack prophylaxis program is the single most important means of reducing these losses. By using an insurance analogy, our model provides economic justification for preparedness measures.
• Subjects:
  Anthrax Biological Warfare Brucella Melitensis Brucellosis Health Care Costs Hospitalization Humans Research Article Tularemia
• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 3(2):83-94.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  3
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:b892cecc60a2e06076f76e9d6c8736457b8e26824c3528947a69c7e94b218e5d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/3707/cdc_3707_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 807.22 KB ]