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Ebola's impact on Africa economy might be less than feared

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REUTERS                                                                                                                             nOV. 19, 2014         
By Joe Brock
JOHANNESBURG (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 at 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.

"I would say the outlook has moved closer to the lower case of $3-$4 billion, than the upper case," he said.

In a report in October, the World Bank said that if the Ebola epidemic spread significantly outside the epicentre states of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the potential cost for Africa in disrupted cross-border trade, supply chains and tourism could amount to tens of billions of dollars.

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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/world-bank-sees-3-4-bln-ebola-impact-120954875--business.html#2iSD0T8

See previous story: West African mining programs take hit from Ebola Crisis

http://online.wsj.com/articles/west-african-mining-projects-take-hit-from-ebola-crisis-1416346636

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BBC                                                           Nov. 19, 2014

Nearly half of all Liberians who were employed when the Ebola outbreak began are no longer working, a survey by the World Bank has found.

It said many workers have been told to stay at home or have lost their jobs, while markets have been forced to shut....

Ana Revenga, a senior World Bank official, said even those living areas of Liberia that have not been hit by Ebola "are suffering the economic side effects of this terrible disease".

"Relief efforts must focus not only on those directly affected by the virus, but also on those in the poorest communities for whom market access, mobility and food security continue to get worse," she added.

The World Bank said Liberia's agricultural sector was showing the most resilience to the disease, but its survey found that 70% of respondents said they do not have enough money to afford food.

Read complete article
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30119043

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