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Volume 3, Number 2—June 1997
Perspective

The Economic Impact of a Bioterrorist Attack: Are Prevention and Postattack Intervention Programs Justifiable?

Arnold F. Kaufmann, Martin I. MeltzerComments to Author , and George P. Schmid
Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Main Article

Table 1

Costs of hospitalization and outpatient visits (OPVs) following a bioterrorist attack

Anthrax
 Tularemia
 Brucellosis
Base Upper Base Upper Base Upper
Hospitalized patient
Days in hospital 7 7 10 10 7 7
Cost per day ($)a 556 669 556 669 556 669
Lost productivity ($/day) 65 65 65 65 65 65
Follow-up OPVs (no.) 2 2 2 2 7 7
Cost 1st OPV ($) 28 44 28 44 28 44
Cost other OPVs, ea. ($) 13 24 13 24 13 24
OPV laboratory ($)b,c 87 174 87 174 131 261
OPV x-rays costs ($)d 66 66 0 0 0 0
Lost productivity ($/OPV)e 16 16 16 16 16 16
Total costs ($) 4,541 5,380 6,338 7,582 4,584 5,587
Avg. costs/day ($/day) 649 769 634 758 655 798
% increase: Base to upper estimate 18 20 22
Nonhospitalized patient
Number of OPVs 7 7 12 12 14 14
Cost 1st OPV ($) 28 44 28 44 28 44
Cost other OPVs, ea. ($) 13 24 13 24 13 24
Lost productivity ($/OPV)e 16 16 16 16 16 16
Laboratory costs ($)b,f 131 174 261 522 261 522
X-ray costs ($)d 66 66 66 66 66 66
Drugs usedg D C D+G D+G D+R D+R+G
Cost of drugs ($) 6 181 29 29 220 246
Total costs ($) 422 810 722 1,120 972 1,418
Avg. costs/day ($/day) 60 116 60 93 69 101
% increase: Base to upper estimate 93 55 46

Notes: All costs rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
aHospital costs assumed to include all costs such as drugs, laboratory tests, and x-rays.
bLaboratory tests consists of general health panel (CPT code 80050) and an antigen or antibody test (modeled on the cost of a Streptococcus screen, CPT code 86588).
cFollow-up OPVs for hospitalized patients included two laboratory test sets for anthrax and tularemia patients and three laboratory test sets for brucellosis patients.
dX-ray costs (CPT code 71021), included two sets taken at different OPVs.
eProductivity lost due to an OPV was assumed to be one-quarter of an unspecified day's value.
fFor OPVs of nonhospitalized patients, one set of laboratory tests is assumed for every two visits.
gDrugs used: D = doxycycline; C = ciprofloxacin; R = rifampin.
Sources: See text for explanation of sources of cost estimates.

Main Article

Page created: December 21, 2010
Page updated: December 21, 2010
Page reviewed: December 21, 2010
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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