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. Meltzer
, and George P. Schmid
, and George P. Schmid
Table 6
Potential factors affecting the economic impact of a bioterrorist attack
| Potential impact on Factor | Relative magnitude net savings | of impact |
|---|---|---|
| Higher than projected case-fatality rate | Increase | ++++ |
| Long term illness (physical and psychological) | Increase | ++ |
| Decontamination and disposal of biohazardous waste | Increase | ++ |
| Disruptions in commerce (local, national, and international) | Increase | ++ |
| Animal illness and death | Increase | + |
| Lower than projected effectiveness of prophylaxis | Decrease | - - - |
| Adverse drug reactions due to prophylaxis | Decrease | - |
| Postattack prophylaxis distribution costs, including crowd control and security | Decrease | - |
| Training and other skill maintenance costs | Decrease | - |
| Procurement and storage of antimicrobial drugs and vaccines before attack | Decrease | - |
| Criminal investigations and court costs | Variable | +/- |
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