Economic Impact of Emerging Infectious Diseases

Emerging infectious diseases not only attack the health of our population but also can have a profound impact on the health of Florida’s economy. Florida thrives on agriculture and tourism for economic stability. These two resources provide our state with the income it needs to support all the institutions that make the great state what it is today.

Foot-and-Mouth disease

Foot-and-Mouth Disease was responsible for a substantial economic loss in England in 2001.
Source: Rev. sci. tech. Off. Int. Epiz. 2002

affected rural and international tourism expenditures
also caused estimated to be £355 billion loss to agricultural producers, representing about 20% of the estimated total income from farming in 2001

Estimates of impact in the US based upon England’s outbreak:
Source: Journal of American Veterinarian Medical Association (JAVMA) 2002

$14 billion decrease in US farm income due to
loss of export markets
decreases in domestic demand from consumer fears

Pandemic Influenza

Pandemic Influenza is another emerging disease that threatens our state. An outbreak in the United States would have severe economic costs:
Source: CDC Emerging Infectious Disease Journal

loss of productivity due to death
potential breakdown of infrastructure with consequent devastation to our economy
Industries such as automobiles, travel and tourism, electronics and many others would likely be devastated
impact on the housing market and the stock market
Models predict the total economic impact of an Influenza pandemic could range from $71.3 billion to $166.5 billion

Citrus Greening

Citrus greening is already affecting Florida and this disease could become endemic to the state resulting in:
Source: IFAS/Florida EDIS Document 2005

economic loss
grower costs would increase
revenue loss would occur as a result of reduced yields in crops
destruction of trees, and the cost of clean nursery stock

2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak,
impact on Canada

Source: 2003 Conference Board of Canada Special Briefing

$1.1 billion losses to national tourism and travel economy in 2003
$1.5 billion losses to national economy, representing 0.15% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product

2003 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease) positive test in Canadian Beef Industry, impact on England

Source: Statistics Canada

Export market of Canadian beef dropped in worth from $4.1 billion in 2002 to zero following the outbreak
Exports were declined by most countries, deepening the economic impact of Mad Cow Disease on the nation
Canada’s ranking as third in the world for the highest beef exporter, holding about 15% of the world beef market, fell in light of the outbreak

In order to stop Emerging Infectious Diseases, especially ones which affect the tourism and agricultural industry of Florida, from invading our state and causing economic turmoil, more research and preventative measures against Emerging Infectious Diseases must be incorporated into our state disease prevention plans.