(Reuters) The cost of the Ebola epidemic for Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is likely to be closer to $3 billion-$4 billion and not the worst-case scenario of $32 billion, the World Bank’s chief economist for the continent said on Wednesday.
Francisco Ferreira said in a lecture in Johannesburg that successful containment of Ebola in some West African countries made the gloomiest forecasts less likely, but the economic damage could still escalate if there was any complacency.
“The risk of the highest case of economic impact of Ebola has been reduced because of the success of containment in some countries. It has not gone to zero because a great level of preparedness and focus is still needed,” Ferreira said.
