Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations has warned that the Ebola outbreak in Africa could cause economic losses of up to $3.6 billion, along with the loss of approximately 328,000 jobs. If the disease spreads to new countries, the health crisis could escalate into a broader development crisis across the continent.
Rise in infections and deaths in Congo
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo said that the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no proven vaccine or treatment, has infected 1,307 people and killed 377 since it was declared on May 15.
Uganda has recorded a limited number of cases. Meanwhile, health experts warn of the potential for the virus to spread to neighboring countries, including South Sudan, further complicating containment efforts.
The United Nations calls for urgent action
The UNDP Resident Representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Damien Mamah, said that providing the necessary resources and strengthening the health response could help contain the outbreak and prevent further human and economic losses.
He added that failure to control the epidemic could transform the health emergency into a deeper and more protracted development crisis, potentially spreading across the region and possibly the entire continent.
Worrying economic scenarios
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) outlined three possible scenarios for the course of the outbreak. The best-case scenario assumes the epidemic remains confined to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. In this scenario, losses to Congo’s GDP are estimated at approximately $1 billion.
The worst-case scenario, however, anticipates the virus spreading to countries such as Rwanda and Angola. Furthermore, it points to increased fuel costs associated with the Iran-Iraq War. This could lead to a decline in Africa’s GDP of approximately $3.6 billion and the loss of up to 328,000 jobs across the continent.
