Economic evaluation of low pathogenic avian influenza in northeastern US live bird markets.

Avian influenza in domestic poultry can have varied impacts on the health and welfare of birds and an economic burden on producers, consumers, and animal health agencies including the cost to control and eradicate avian influenza. Low pathogenic avian influenza has historically been a recurring issue in U.S. live bird markets, but rarely studied. Live bird markets source various species of birds and mammals from a variety of wholesalers and sell either live animals or freshly harvested animals. Using cost estimates from the 2016 outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza in northeastern U.S. live bird markets, estimates of the mean per market costs were calculated for responding government agencies ($804) and the market itself ($3,997), including traceback investigation, testing costs, and cleaning and disinfection. The economic impact also included market impacts which the majority are affected by income that the live bird markets forego during cleaning and disinfection ($3,998 per market) with an expected shutdown of 3–5d. Animal health agencies' responses to a disease depend on the established disease response and resources, such as labor and funding. Understanding the economic costs of disease management improves the decision-making process for these agencies and markets as a whole to limit disease introduction, spread, longevity, and market impacts through business disruptions and foregone income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]