Economic assessment of African horse sickness vaccine impact.
Authors: Redmond Elizabeth F, Jones Derrick, Rushton Jonathan
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Economic Assessment of African Horse Sickness Vaccine Impact African horse sickness remains a significant economic and welfare concern across sub-Saharan Africa, whilst current vaccine options are insufficient to prevent disease spread or support rapid disease elimination in previously unaffected regions, thereby creating substantial trade barriers for equine movement and commerce. Redmond, Jones and Rushton conducted an economic modelling study to quantify the financial benefits of introducing a superior AHS vaccine with improved efficacy, examining both endemic and non-endemic scenarios through cost–benefit analysis frameworks. The research demonstrates that a more effective vaccine would deliver considerable economic returns through reduced mortality losses, lower vaccination programme costs, and critically, restoration of international trade capacity—benefits that compound substantially over multi-year implementation periods across different geographic contexts. For equine professionals operating in at-risk regions or those involved in international horse movement, these findings underscore the clinical and commercial case for investment in next-generation vaccine development, highlighting how improved immunological tools can translate into tangible reductions in disease burden and enhanced market access. The study addresses a gap in peer-reviewed literature by providing quantified economic justification for vaccine innovation, shifting the discussion beyond technical limitations toward the financial imperative for advancement.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Current AHS vaccines have limitations affecting their utility for disease control and international horse movement—practitioners should stay informed about vaccine efficacy developments
- •A more effective vaccine could significantly improve disease control strategies and reduce trade barriers for equine movement between regions
- •Economic analysis of new vaccine technologies is needed to justify investment in AHS vaccine development and guide vaccination policy decisions
Key Findings
- •African horse sickness is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and poses a threat to equine populations in non-endemic regions
- •Current vaccine technologies have limitations that create barriers to horse movement and AHS control
- •Literature lacks economic assessment of benefits from bringing a new, more effective AHS vaccine to market
- •New vaccine development could enable rapid elimination of virus after incursion in non-endemic areas and countries