A One Health Framework for Estimating the Economic Costs of Zoonotic Diseases on Society

Abstract

This article presents an integrated epidemiological and economic framework for assessing zoonoses using a “one health” concept. The framework allows for an understanding of the cross-sector economic impact of zoonoses using modified risk analysis and detailing a range of analytical tools. The goal of the framework is to link the analysis outputs of animal and human disease transmission models, economic impact models and evaluation of risk management options to gain improved understanding of factors affecting the adoption of risk management strategies so that investment planning includes the most promising interventions (or sets of interventions) in an integrated fashion. A more complete understanding of the costs of the disease and the costs and benefits of control measures would promote broader implementation of the most efficient and effective control measures, contributing to improved animal and human health, better livelihood outcomes for the poor and macroeconomic growth.

Overview of Zoonotic Diseases in Turkey: The One Health Concept and Future Threats

“…More than 200 zoonoses have previously been described to date, and their epidemiological appearance and distributions occur in sporadic, endemic, epidemic, and pandemic forms in the world causing deaths among humans, livestock, as well as wildlife. Zoonotic infections also result in great economic losses (5,7) and could be one of the major reasons of poverty (6)(7)(8). The public health impact and financial consequences of these diseases can devastate the already overburdened economic conditions in developing countries as well as in Turkey (9,10).…”

“…Thus, in most developing countries, the surveillance of zoonotic diseases is not recognized in the One Health context between veterinary medicine and human medicine. In addition, many countries lack diagnostic capacity and health infrastructure (7). Meanwhile, the global increase in zoonotic diseases was reported as 22% in 1990-2000 and 21% in 2000-2010 (13) To combat of zoonoses, the One Health concept has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a worldwide strategy that would expand interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals, and environment (14).…”

A review of the metrics for One Health benefits

“…(1), (3), (9), (16), (17), (19), (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39) Economic benefit / increase in economic efficiency, e.g.  Cost-effective reduction in disease transmission and incidence  Cost-savings by sharing resources (e.g.…”

“…(1), (3), (5), (13)(14)(15)(16), (25)(26)(27), (36), (38), (40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50) Improvement in human or animal health or well-being, e.g.…”

“…Current impact assessment approaches do not cover the continuum of human through to animal health problems, and those which exist are often led by prioritisation processes dominated by expert opinion, which results in a stubborn institutionalization of programmes and preferential treatment of certain types of health problems. Questions need to be posed, therefore, about how we can estimate benefits from One Health in a standardised way to provide the economic evidence decision-makers need to allocate resources effectively (16).…”