Intangible and Economic Impacts of Hendra Virus Prevention Strategies

Abstract

Hendra virus (HeV), a potentially fatal zoonotic disease spread by flying foxes, to date has always infected humans via a spillover event from equine HeV infection. In a theoretical case study, we compared the impacts of two different HeV prevention strategies - vaccination and flying fox roost removal - using a recently developed framework that considers different stakeholder group perspectives. The perspectives of the four selected stakeholder groups regarding intangibles were inferred from public discussions and coverage in the media. For all stakeholder groups, the option to vaccinate horses was found to add value to the economic results when the intangible impacts were included in the analysis, while the option for roost removal unanimously detracted from economic analysis value when the intangible impacts were included. Both the mean and median stakeholder-adjusted value ratios (2.25 and 2.12, respectively) for vaccination were inflated when intangible impacts were included, by value-adding to the results of a traditional economic analysis. In the roost removal strategy, these ratios (1.19 and 1.16, respectively) were deflated when intangible impacts were included. Results of this theoretical study suggest that the inclusion of intangible impacts promotes the value of a two-dose initial vaccination protocol using a subunit vaccination considered to offer complete protection for horses, as a strategy to control HeV, whereas roost removal becomes an even more costly strategy. Outcome of the analysis is particularly sensitive to the intangible value placed on human health. Further evaluation - via sociological methods - of values placed on intangibles by various stakeholder groups is warranted.

Henipavírus: Paramixovírus Zoonóticos, Emergentes e Letais

“…As medidas preventivas recomendadas são amplamente divulgadas no local, mas a implementação destas fica a critério dos proprietários de maneira individual (GORDON, 2001;WIETHOELTER et al, 2017). O impacto econômico do HeV é pouco caracterizado, embora o custo médio de suporte e resposta a um surto desta doença esteja estimado em torno de AUD $30.660.00 por cavalo (WILSON; WARD, 2016).…”

Managing the risk of Hendra virus spillover in Australia using ecological approaches: A report on three community juries

“…No therapeutics have been registered for human use but experimental monoclonal antibodies have been used as a compassionate treatment for individuals with high HeV risk exposures [9, 10]. Not including the expense of managing human HeV cases and exposures, the cost and economic loss associated with each localised HeV outbreak has been estimated to be AUD $30,600 for each horse death [11].…”

“…Despite the introduction and enforcement of protective legislation, current land management strategies for flying-foxes still focus on removing resources to deter the establishment of roosts near human settlements [37]. Experience has shown that relocating flying-fox camps is expensive and almost always fails in the longer term [11, 38]. Rather than solving the problem, dispersal efforts can also lead to the establishment of permanent secondary camps in unexpected and undesirable areas [39].…”

Horse populations are severely underestimated in a region at risk of Hendra virus spillover

“…[7][8][9] There have been 108 horse, and four human deaths from Hendra virus confirmed in Queensland and New South Wales between 1994 and 2022. 10,11 Additionally, with an estimated cost to investigate each potential equine infection of $30,600 12 and ongoing risks to human health, there is a need to better understand the dynamics of this virus and its transmission.…”