Study estimates potential cost of Zika in certain states, scenarios

A Zika outbreak that infected from 0.01% to 10% of the population in six U.S. states could cost from $183 million to $10.3 billion, researchers estimate in a study reported last week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The study estimates direct medical costs, Medicaid costs and productivity losses for outbreaks of that size in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. “As the Zika virus epidemic continues to spread internationally, countries such as the United States must determine how much to invest in prevention, control and response,” the authors said. “Fundamental to these decisions is quantifying the potential economic burden of Zika under different scenarios.”