ABSTRACT
Background: The non-typhoidal salmonellosis (NTS) is a pathogenic bacterial zoonosis with substantial but often under-appreciated public health impacts. The NTS is prevalent in poultry and humans in Nigeria, yet its economic and social burden have not been determined through any empirical study. To bridge the gap, we evaluated the impact of NTS in social and economic terms. Methods: Relevant population, economic and epidemiological data were retrieved from peer-reviewed publications, open sources and relevant authorities. Additional data were obtained through experts' opinions and field surveys. Using a customized and validated Microsoft Excel® tool, economic analysis was conducted. Results: Using the year 2020 reference point, the burden of NTS was 325,731 cases and a total of 1043 human deaths, at a disability-adjusted life year (DALYs) of 37,321. The cost associated with infection in humans was US$ 473,982,068. A total loss of US$ 456,905,311 was estimated in poultry including the direct value of animal loss, US$ 224,236,769, loss from salvage slaughter and culling, US$ 220,386,556, and value of foregone production, US$ 12,281,987. Interpretation: The outcomes of this important work provide empirical evidence to support informed decisions and investments in the control and eradication of human and poultry salmonellosis (NTS) in Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
In 2016, the General Assembly of the United Nations recognised inappropriate Antimicrobial Use (AMU) in livestock as one of the leading causes of increasing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This is happening at a time when livestock production is expected to increase dramatically particularly in Africa, in response to the large rise in aggregate demand due to population growth, urbanisation and increasing income levels. Therefore, understanding the characteristics and appropriateness of AMU in livestock in this region is of utmost importance, yet data is seldom available. We propose to collect information on AMU in livestock by including related questions in nationally representative agricultural surveys that are carried out regularly (annually or every 2-3 years) by National Statistical Offices. This approach, with its limitation though, is a viable and cost-effective way to gather essential information on AMU in livestock farming. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) piloted the introduction of key AMU questions in the Annual Agricultural Survey (AAS), gathering data from 6 thousand agricultural households nation-wide. Results show that AMU is considerable among livestock keeping households (35%), who use antibiotics not only for curative treatment (~58%) but also for disease prevention (~44%) and growth promotion (~5%). Data from the AAS also allows users to explore linkages between antibiotics use, livestock production practices (e.g. herd composition and size, feeding, breeding techniques, etc.) and other household / farm characteristics (e.g. location, education, household size, etc.), thereby effectively informing policy decisions.
ABSTRACT
Ideally, policies aiming to tackle zoonotic diseases in animals and reduce the burden of disease in humans should be based on an assessment of the cost and benefits of alternative interventions. However, while the cost of actions targeting diseases in animals and humans and the benefits in terms of increased livestock production can be monetized, it is a challenge to monetize improvements in the quality of life or to life expectancy extensions in humans in zoonotic policy evaluations. This paper proposes a method to monetize the human health benefits derived from zoonotic disease reduction and applies it to cysticercosis in Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. We propose a three-step approach to estimate the human health component of the monetary impact of zoonoses. First, we proxy society's willingness to pay to avoid a disability adjusted life year (DALY) using the annualized value of statistical life (VSL) estimated by of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Second, we implement a benefit transfer methodology to transfer the US value into the context of the sampled countries, accounting for differences in income levels. Finally, we use the 2016 Global Burden of Disease (GBD, 2018) data on cysticercosis to estimate its monetary impact on human health. All results are estimated in current international dollars using purchasing power parity (USD PPP) exchange rates. In the sampled countries, willingness to pay to avoid a DALY is estimated between USD PPP 2 000 and USD PPP 12 700. In most cases, these estimates fall within the range of 1 and 3 times the GDP per capita. The estimated monetary value of the DALYs due to human infections of cysticercosis per 100 000 people ranges between USD PPP 18 000 and USD PPP 98 000 per year. The proposed methodology might represent a first step towards providing a consistent and unbiased measure of the benefits of interventions targeting prevention, detection and control of zoonotic diseases.
