The United Nations said on Tuesday that an Ebola outbreak could cost Africa up to $3.6-billion and hundreds of thousands of jobs, potentially causing a development crisis.
The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no tested vaccine or treatment, has infected 1 307 people and killed 377 in the Democratic Republic of Congo since being declared on May 15, the government says.
Concerns about cross-border spread
A much smaller number of cases have been reported in Uganda, and experts warn of the possibility of it spreading to other neighbours, such as South Sudan.
“If we have the resources and we step up, we can contain this outbreak and prevent further losses,” said Damien Mama, United Nations Development Programme resident representative in Congo.
“If we do not, this health emergency risks becoming a much deeper and prolonged development crisis across the region and potentially the continent.”
Best and worst-case scenario
The UNDP outlined three scenarios for the outbreak. In the best scenario, where the epidemic remains contained in the two countries, the cost is $1-billion for Congo’s GDP, the report said.
In the worst-case scenario, the disease spreads to countries including Rwanda and Angola and coincides with higher fuel costs linked to the Iran crisis, cutting continental GDP by $3.6-billion and resulting in 328,000 job losses, the report said.
- The UN warns that the Ebola outbreak in Africa could cost up to $3.6 billion and cause hundreds of thousands of job losses, risking a development crisis.
- The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, with no approved vaccine or treatment, has infected 1,307 people and killed 377 in the Democratic Republic of Congo since May 15.
- Smaller outbreaks in Uganda raise concerns of the virus spreading to neighboring countries like South Sudan.
- The UNDP states that with adequate resources, the outbreak can be contained to avoid a prolonged regional crisis.
- The report outlines scenarios from a $1 billion GDP loss if contained, to $3.6 billion and 328,000 job losses if it spreads further amid economic pressures.
A much smaller number of cases have been reported in
"If we have the resources and we step up, we can contain this outbreak and prevent further losses," said Damien Mama, United Nations Development Programme resident representative in
"If we do not, this health emergency risks becoming a much deeper and prolonged development crisis across the region and potentially the continent."
In the worst-case scenario, the disease spreads to countries including
