An economic analysis of a contingency model utilising vaccination for the control of equine influenza in a non-endemic country.
Authors: Rosanowski Sarah M, Carpenter Tim E, Adamson David, Rogers Chris W, Pearce Patricia, Burns Martin, Cogger Naomi
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Economic Analysis of Equine Influenza Control Strategies in New Zealand New Zealand's freedom from equine influenza has never been tested, yet the 2007 Australian outbreak—which occurred in a previously disease-free population—prompted urgent evaluation of control strategies to guide future biosecurity policy. Rosanowski and colleagues employed an integrated epidemiological and economic modelling approach, coupling disease transmission simulations with cost-benefit analysis to compare the relative value of different intervention scenarios should EI enter the country. The contingency model examined various vaccination and quarantine strategies, quantifying both the epidemiological outcomes (spread dynamics, infection rates) and financial implications (treatment costs, lost productivity, control expenditure) of each approach. Their findings provide a framework for understanding which control measures offer the best economic return relative to investment, allowing policymakers to make evidence-based decisions about vaccination deployment and quarantine protocols before any outbreak occurs. For equine professionals in biosecure regions, this research underscores the value of pre-emptive strategic planning and demonstrates how economic analysis—not just epidemiology—should inform vaccination recommendations and herd management protocols during potential disease incursions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Vaccination contingency planning for EI should be based on economic modelling that weighs outbreak costs against prevention costs
- •Non-endemic countries should evaluate control strategies proactively rather than reactively to optimize resource allocation
- •Decision-makers need integrated epidemiologic and economic data to justify EI management investments to stakeholders
Key Findings
- •Epidemiologic modelling combined with cost-benefit analysis provides a framework for evaluating EI control strategies in non-endemic countries
- •Economic justification for EI control decisions requires integration of disease spread predictions with financial feasibility assessments
- •The 2007 Australian EI outbreak demonstrated the vulnerability of previously EI-free countries and prompted preventive policy development in New Zealand