Social Cost of Leptospirosis Cases Attributed to the 2011 Disaster Striking Nova Friburgo, Brazil

Carlos Pereira, Martha Barata and Aline Trigo
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Carlos Pereira: Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health (ENSP), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rua Leopoldo Bulhoes, 1480Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
Martha Barata: Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Avenida Brasil, Manguinhos 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
Aline Trigo: Celso Suckow da Fonseca Federal Center of Technological Education—CEFET/RJ, Avenida Maracana, 229, sala 322 Maracana Bloco E, Rio de Janeiro 20271-110, Brazil

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the social cost of the leptospirosis cases that were attributed to the natural disaster of January 2011 in Nova Friburgo (State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) through a partial economic assessment. This study utilized secondary data supplied by the Municipal Health Foundation of Nova Friburgo. Income scenarios based on the national and state minimum wages and on average income of the local population were employed. The total social cost of leptospirosis cases attributed to the 2011 disaster may range between US$21,500 and US$66,000 for the lower income scenario and between US$23,900 and US$100,800 for that of higher income. Empirical therapy represented a total avoided cost of US$14,800, in addition to a reduction in lethality. An estimated 31 deaths were avoided among confirmed cases of the disease, and no deaths resulted from the leptospirosis cases attributed to the natural disaster. There has been a significant post-disaster rise in leptospirosis incidence in the municipality, which illustrates the potential for increased cases—and hence costs—of this illness following natural disasters, which justifies the adoption of preventive measures in environmental health.

Keywords: disaster assessment; cost of illness; health care costs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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