ECONOMIC-ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE AD CONTROL PROGRAMS

The threat imposed by its virulence brings a presumption that Aujeszky 's disease (AD) must be controlled because potential losses are high. Viewed as an economic problem, the decision on whether and how to cont rol AD hinges on comparing the costs of doing so with the benefits (in terms of reduced production losses) to be gained, Four strategies are considered: (a) doing nothing, (b) suppressing and maintaining the di sease at low prevalence levels by vaccination, (c) suppressing to low levels and then eradicating by culling remaining positive animals and (d) eradicating in one step by means of a test-and-slaughter policy. T he net economic merits of each strategy are examined using data derive d from specific vaccination studies established in Germany and the Net herlands. A computer model is developed to estimate disease costs unde r different technical, epidemiological and economic assumptions, allow ing the economically optimal strategies to be explored, In general no single strategy can be recommended as the 'best' for dealing with AD, since it depends on a host of factors relating to pig density, prevale nce levels, production system, trade relations, etc. As usual, economi c realities complicate the quest for operational simplicity in disease control. However, for the regions of high pig density studied the mos t economic AD control strategy is to lower herd prevalence by intensiv e vaccination before completing eradication by test-and-removal of rem aining positive animals. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.