By Theophilus Adedokun

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says the ongoing Ebola crisis in Central Africa and East Africa could cost the continent as much as $3.6 billion in economic output and wipe out more than 328,000 jobs if the virus spreads beyond its current hotspots.

In May, the World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.

WHO said that the outbreak does not meet the threshold for a pandemic emergency under the international health regulations.

The agency said the declaration followed consultations with authorities in DR Congo and Uganda over the escalating spread of the virus and the risk of cross-border transmission. 

During the release of a new assessment on the potential economic impact of the Ebola outbreak on Tuesday, the UNDP warned that the economic consequences of the  Ebola outbreak would depend on how quickly health authorities are able to contain the virus.

The agency said that the epidemic is projected to shave about $1 billion off the Democratic Republic of Congo’s gross domestic product (GDP) if the outbreak remains largely confined to the DRC and Uganda.

UNDP said that the economic effect would become far more severe if the virus spreads into additional countries.

UNDP explained that if Ebola spreads into neighbouring countries such as Rwanda and Angola while coinciding with higher global fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Africa’s economy could lose about $3.6 billion in GDP and about 328,000 jobs across the continent.

Speaking on the report, Damien Mama, resident representative of the UNDP in the DRC, noted that a stronger international response could still prevent the worst outcomes.

“If we have the resources and we step up, we can contain this outbreak and prevent further losses,” Mama said.

Source: TheCable