Report: Cost of Ebola Could Top $32 Billion
WASHINGTON (AP) — The World Bank Group says the economic impact of the Ebola epidemic could reach $32.6 billion by the end of next year if the disease ravaging Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone spreads to neighboring countries.
A World Bank report released Wednesday estimates the economic costs of two scenarios as the battle against Ebola moves into next year.
The report says the economic cost could top $9 billion if Ebola is rapidly contained in the three hardest hit countries, but could reach $32.6 billion if it takes a while to contain Ebola in those countries and the disease spreads to neighboring nations in West Africa.
The World Health Organization estimates that Ebola has killed more than 3,400 people in West Africa and infected at least twice that many.
(Story by Deb Riechmann, The Associated Press)
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