The West-Nile-Virus (WNV) and Usutu-Virus (USUV) are present in Germany for some time now. Both Viruses are transmitted by Mosquitos and circulate mostly in birds, their reservoir and main hosts. As zoonotic pathogens, both Viruses have the possibility to infect humans and especially WNV can lead to severe cases. Due to their close genetic relation, the risk for co-infection is present for humans and animals, but cross-immunity is also not to be ruled out. Furthermore, the tick-borne-encephalitis-virus (TBEV), occurring worldwide and a Flavivirus too, can affect the further spread of WNV in Germany.
In our part of the project E.4.3 cost-benefit-analysis for different control measures regarding mosquito-transmitted infections, we want to compare the effectiveness of the control measures against WNV-infections with their socio-economic consequences using a cost-benefit-analysis.
At first, an impact-analysis about WNV-infections in humans and animals (birds and horses) will take place with a literature research. On the basis of the results of this analysis and of the Modeling from the former projects, CuliFo and CuliFo2, different scenarios for reduction or avoidance of infections will be defined in cooperation with the partners in this project, CvO, ZAF and GFS e.V . These scenarios include one base-scenario with no interventions and different scenarios with focus on reduction of the vector-population and therefore the transmission, and possible vaccine-options. These scenarios will then be rated with a cost-benefit-analysis regarding their costs and number of cases of illness and death in humans and animals.
Partners and affiliated entities
- BNITM (Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin) Hamburg
- FLI (Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut) Greifswald-Insel Riems
- CvO (Carl-von-Ossietzky-Universität) Oldenburg
- ZALF (Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung) Müncheberg
- GFS e.V (Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Stechmückenbekämpfung) Speyer
- IZI (Frauenhofer Institut für Zelltherapie und Immunologie) Leipzig
Involved IfE Scientists
Isabel Suckau (doctoral student)
