UN Predicts $3.6 Billion Economic Impact from Ebola

The United Nations has projected that the ongoing Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, could lead to a $3.6 billion hit to the economy, with significant implications for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. As of the latest reports, 1,307 individuals have been infected, and 377 have died.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo declared the outbreak on May 15. Experts warn of the possibility of the disease spreading to neighboring countries, including South Sudan.

Damien Mama, a representative from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), outlined three scenarios for the outbreak's progression. In the best-case scenario, the epidemic remains contained within the two countries, costing approximately $1 billion to the Democratic Republic of Congo's GDP.

In the worst-case scenario, the disease could spread to other countries such as Rwanda and Angola, coinciding with higher fuel costs linked to the crisis in Iran, potentially reducing the continent's GDP by $3.6 billion and resulting in the loss of 328,000 jobs.