Cost of a measles outbreak in a remote island economy: 2014 Federated States of Micronesia measles outbreak.

Thursday, 21st of September 2017

Vaccine. 2017 Sep 5. pii: S0264-410X(17)31173-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.08.075. [Epub ahead of print]

Cost of a measles outbreak in a remote island economy: 2014 Federated States of Micronesia measles outbreak.

Pike J¹ Tippins A² Nyaku M³ Eckert M² Helgenberger L⁴ Underwood JM².

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Abstract

After 20years with no reported measles cases on May 15 2014 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of two cases testing positive for measles-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Under the Compact of Free Association FSM receives immunization funding and technical support from the United States (US) domestic vaccination program managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In a collaborative effort public health officials and volunteers from FSM and the US government worked to respond and contain the measles outbreak through an emergency mass vaccination campaign contact tracing and other outbreak investigation activities. Contributions were also made by United Nations Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO). Total costs incurred as a result of the outbreak were nearly $4000000; approximately $10000 per case. Direct medical costs (≈$141000) were incurred in the treatment of those individuals infected as well as lost productivity of the infected and informal caregivers (≈$250000) and costs to contain the outbreak (≈$3.5 million). We assessed the economic burden of the 2014 measles outbreak to FSM as well as the economic responsibilities of the US. Although the US paid the majority of total costs of the outbreak (≈67%) examining each countrys costs relative to their respective economy illustrates a far greater burden to FSM. We demonstrate that while FSM was heavily assisted by the US in responding to the 2014 Measles Outbreak the outbreak significantly impacted their economy. FSMs economic burden from the outbreak is approximately equivalent to their entire 2016 Fiscal Year budget dedicated to education.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.