The economic impact of Ebola could be "catastrophic" in three outbreaks of the epidemic countries (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia) mainly due to a "fear factor" that paralyzes the activity, warned the World Bank (WB) Wednesday, September 17.
"If the virus continues to spread in the three countries worst affected (...), the economic impact could be multiplied by eight, inflicting catastrophic to fragile states shock," said a report of the institution, also pointing the risk of food crisis.
According to calculations by the WB, the combined gross domestic product of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone could be cut by $ 359 million in 2014 and 809 million by 2015 if the epidemic is not contained.
A very high risk of recession
In the latter scenario, economic growth would drop next year by 11.7 percentage points and 8.9 points Liberia to Sierra Leone, at the risk of plunging the two poorest countries in recession.
"The most important impact of the economic crisis is not the result of its direct costs (mortality, morbidity, health care, lost days of work), but a panic fueled by fears of contagion," said the World Bank.
This "fear factor" has been responsible for almost all of the economic impact of previous global epidemics (SARS, H1N1 ... fever), emphasizes the institution calls on the international community to mobilize "several billion dollars" to contain the epidemic.
President Barack Obama called Tuesday "act quickly" to face the Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 2,460 people in nearly 5,000 cases detected, according to the latest report of the World Health Organization (WHO) .
EU puts € 78 million on the table
Members of the European Union have for their promised 78 million additional euros to help the fight against Ebola, said Wednesday the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Kristalina Georgieva.
These national contributions should be added to the 150 million released by the European Commission to support Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
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