The potential economic and societal impact of known emerging infections is enormous.

HIV / AIDS Considering a single “new infection” - HIV/AIDS, we can see the many effects just in South Carolina: hundreds of millions of dollars in direct medical care costs and indirect costs to society, the loss of thousands of valuable years of lives and major social disruption. The financial burden to society is great.

The lifetime, discounted, direct medical costs of treating HIV is estimated to be $96,000 for adults and $161,000 for children infected since birth. Neither of these estimates include the financial impact of multi-drug therapy costing more than $10,000/year.

Annual HIV/AIDS related expenditures in SC were estimated to be about $69 million in 1997. Personal service expenditures for treatment and social support were by far the largest component of total expenditures. The medical treatment costs of HIV/AIDS exceeded $60 million. Hospital inpatient care consumed the major share, representing over $30 million. The average charge per hospital stay was $14,260. Hospital outpatient charges totaled $1.7 million.

Nosocomial Infection When a patient on a medical ward acquires an infection in the hospital, treatment costs average $2,100. Septicemia causes patients to stay in the hospital longer and results in over $3,500 in additional hospital charges.

USDHHS (1998), Preventing Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Strategy for the 21st Century. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.