Assessing the Costs and Benefits of an Oral Vaccine for Raccoon Rabies: A Possible Model

Abstract

Any cost-benefit analysis of the use of an oral vaccine to control raccoon rabies should include calculating both costs and benefits in terms of $/unit area. Further, cost savings must be adjusted to match the stages of an epizootic: pre-epizootic, epizootic, and post-epizootic. A generic model, which can be adapted to different sites, illustrates the use of threshold analysis to link distribution costs, cost savings, bait density, and vaccine price. Initial results indicate the need to lower the cost of the vaccine, continue research to determine optimal bait densities, and examine distribution plans that do not require continued protection of areas in which raccoon rabies was eliminated through previous vaccination programs.

Rabies Virus Expressing Dendritic Cell-Activating Molecules Enhances the Innate and Adaptive Immune Response to Vaccination

“…Although these vaccines are safe and efficacious, multiple doses (at least four) must be administered over an extended period of time (14 days) to people who have been exposed to rabid animals or animals suspected of being rabid (45). In addition, the high cost (more than $600 for four doses) (40) associated with these inactivated RABV vaccines prevents their effective use in developing countries, where the vaccines are needed most (50). Routine vaccination of pet animals (dogs and cats) is carried out by using inactivated vaccines (12).…”

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2004

“…1,6,7 Various public health activities, including vaccination of domestic livestock and companion animals, vaccination programs targeting wildlife, and ongoing education programs, have contributed to the reduction in transmission of rabies virus from terrestrial animals to human beings. 8 However, a number of rabies cases in human beings has resulted from infection with rabies virus variants that are associated with bats, 9,10 a wildlife group difficult to target for rabies control by conventional methods. Prevention of rabies resulting from infection with bat-associated variants is further challenged by the frequent absence of known exposure histories involving a bat bite in human rabies cases.…”

Rabies surveillance in the United States during 1999

“…[1][2][3] Vaccination of domestic livestock and companion animals, oral vaccination programs targeting wildlife, ongoing education programs, and other activities conducted by public health authorities have contributed to reduced transmission of rabies variants to human beings. 4 However, a small but increasing number of cases of rabies in human beings during the previous decade have resulted from infection with variants of the rabies virus that are associated with bats, 5,6 a wildlife group difficult to target for rabies control by conventional methods. An additional challenge to pre-…”