The Cost-Effectiveness of Strategies to Reduce Mortality from an Intentional Release of Aerosolized Anthrax Spores

Abstract

Background. Intentional exposures to aerosolized Bacillus anthracis spores have caused fatalities. Objective. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of strategies to reduce mortality from future inhalational anthrax exposures. Methods. Computer cohort simulation of a 100,000-person single-site exposure (worst-case scenario) and a 100-person multiplesite exposure (resembling the recent US attack). For each scenario, universal vaccination and an emergency surveillance and response (ESR) system were compared with a default strategy that assumed eventual discovery of the exposure. Results. If an exposure was unlikely to occur or was small in scale, neither vaccination nor an ESR system was cost-effective. If an exposure was certain and large in scale, an ESR system was more cost-effective than vaccination ($73 v. $29,600 per life-year saved), and a rapid response saved more lives than improved surveillance. Conclusions. Strategies to reduce deaths from anthrax attacks are cost-effective only if large exposures are certain. A faster response is more beneficial than enhanced surveillance