Echinococcosis: costs, losses and social consequences of a neglected zoonosis

The socio-economic impact of echinococcosis, with special reference to cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is reviewed. The following items are discussed: socio-economic consequences in humans; economic consequences in livestock; costs and benefits of control programmes; economic evaluation of control programmes; social reasons favouring the life cycle of CE; social, political and economic situations hindering the control of echinococcosis. Many consequences are difficult to evaluate from an economic point of view. However, many evaluations have shown that CE is an important ( often neglected) public health and economic problem, especially in endemic areas, and that the socio-economic evaluation of its consequences and of control actions proves indispensable to best use available resources and possibly tailor control strategies.