UN warns Ebola outbreak could cost Africa $3.6 billion

Damien Mama, the UN Development Programme’s resident representative in Congo, said, “If we have the resources and we step up, we can contain this outbreak and prevent further losses.”

The United Nations said Tuesday that the ongoing Ebola outbreak could cost Africa up to $3.6 billion and hundreds of thousands of jobs, warning that the crisis risks becoming a major development setback if not contained.

The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no tested vaccine or treatment, has infected 1,307 people and killed 377 in the Democratic Republic of Congo since May 15, according to government figures. A smaller number of cases have been reported in Uganda, and experts fear the virus could spread to neighboring countries such as South Sudan.

Damien Mama, the UN Development Programme’s resident representative in Congo, said, “If we have the resources and we step up, we can contain this outbreak and prevent further losses.” He cautioned that without urgent action, the health emergency could evolve into a prolonged development crisis across the region.

The UNDP outlined three scenarios in its report. In the best case, where the epidemic remains contained in Congo and Uganda, the cost to Congo’s GDP would be about $1 billion. In the worst case, the disease spreads to countries including Rwanda and Angola, coinciding with higher fuel costs linked to the Iran crisis. That scenario could cut continental GDP by $3.6 billion and result in 328,000 job losses.

The UN said the outbreak highlights the urgent need for international support to strengthen health systems and prevent wider economic fallout.