Economic Impact of Dengue Illness in the Americas

Donald S. Shepard Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts; Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France; Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania

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Laurent Coudeville Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts; Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France; Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania

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Yara A. Halasa Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts; Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France; Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania

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Betzana Zambrano Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts; Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France; Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania

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Gustavo H. Dayan Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts; Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France; Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania

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The growing burden of dengue in endemic countries and outbreaks in previously unaffected countries stress the need to assess the economic impact of this disease. This paper synthesizes existing studies to calculate the economic burden of dengue illness in the Americas from a societal perspective. Major data sources include national case reporting data from 2000 to 2007, prospective cost of illness studies, and analyses quantifying underreporting in national routine surveillance systems. Dengue illness in the Americas was estimated to cost $2.1 billion per year on average (in 2010 US dollars), with a range of $1–4 billion in sensitivity analyses and substantial year to year variation. The results highlight the substantial economic burden from dengue in the Americas. The burden for dengue exceeds that from other viral illnesses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) or rotavirus. Because this study does not include some components (e.g., vector control), it may still underestimate total economic consequences of dengue.

Author Notes

*Address correspondence to Donald S. Shepard, Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, The Heller School/MS 035, Brandeis University, PO Box 549110, Waltham, MA 02454-9110. E-mail: shepard@brandeis.edu

Financial support: This study was supported by Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.

Authors' addresses: Donald S. Shepard and Yara A. Halasa, Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, The Heller School, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, E-mails: shepard@brandeis.edu and yara@brandeis.edu. Laurent Coudeville, Sanofi Pasteur 2, Lyon, France, E-mail: laurent.coudeville@sanofipasteur.com. Betzana Zambrano and Gustavo H. Dayan, Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., Swiftwater, PA, E-mails: betzana.zambrano@sanofipasteur.com and gustavo.dayan@sanofipasteur.com.

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