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. 2004 Oct;10(10):1736-44.
doi: 10.3201/eid1010.030925.

West Nile virus economic impact, Louisiana, 2002

Armineh Zohrabian  1 , Martin I Meltzer, Raoult Ratard, Kaafee Billah, Noelle A Molinari, Kakoli Roy, R Douglas Scott 2nd, Lyle R Petersen
Affiliations

West Nile virus economic impact, Louisiana, 2002

Armineh Zohrabian et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 Oct.

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause illness in humans ranging from mild fever to encephalitis. In 2002, a total of 4,156 WNV cases were reported in the United States; 329 were in Louisiana. To estimate the economic impact of the 2002 WNV epidemic in Louisiana, we collected data from hospitals, a patient questionnaire, and public offices. Hospital charges were converted to economic costs by using Medicare cost-to-charge ratios. The estimated cost of the Louisiana epidemic was US 20.1 million dollars from June 2002 to February 2003, including a US 10.9 million dollars cost of illness (US 4.4 million dollars medical and US 6.5 million dollars nonmedical costs) and a US 9.2 million dollars cost of public health response. These data indicate a substantial short-term cost of the WNV disease epidemic in Louisiana.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Number of hospitalized patients (N = 119) with West Nile virus infection, by cost of inpatient treatment; Louisiana, 2002.
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