Ebola: The Ripple Effects

EB OLA тHE RIPPLE EFFECTS As of November 2014, more than 13,000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have contracted the Ebola virus, and almost 5,000 have died. But the effects of the outbreak extend far beyond its staggering mortality rate. Here are just a few of the ways that the virus will continue to undermine public health in these countries. $4 ECONOMY The World Bank predicts that the cost of the outbreak for African nations will top $32.6 billion Astronomical Costs by the end of 2015. If the outbreak isn't contained, the entire Lost GDP region could lose $25.2 billion in GDP by 2015. Agriculture, construction, tourism and Industries in manufacturing are among the industries that have m Jeopardy ground to a halt in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. EDUCATION & CHILD CARE At least 3,700 children have already lost one or both parents to Ebola. Many have been Orphans stigmatized, shunned or abandoned entirely by their families and communities. Schools – including medical institutions - School Closures throughout the affected countries have been closed, in some cases indefinitely. DISEASE & HEALTH CARE Health Care Worker Shortages The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 23 health care workers per 10,000 people. In 2010, the U.S. ratio was 122:10,000. The ratio in Guinea that year was just 1:10,000, and the numbers for Liberia and Sierra Leone are even lower. Deaths from pregnancy complications, treatable chronic conditions and other infectious diseases - Other HIV/AIDS (1.2 million deaths/year), diarrhea Diseases (600,000 deaths/year) and malaria (554,000 deaths/year) – are expected to soar as clinical resources are diverted toward the outbreak. FOOD INSECURITY More than 1.3 million people in the affected countries - in which as much as 50% of the populations are Hunger already food insecure - are expected to require food assistance in the coming months. Farmers are abandoning their land to seek safety, which jeopardizes harvest periods for major exports Declining Exports such as cocoa, rice and peanuts and causes food prices to spike as much as 150%. Movement restrictions in affected areas have caused Agricultural Standstill labor shortages and decreased household incomes. Sources: Milken Institute School of Public Health http://www.who.int http://www.fao.org http://www.worldbankorg THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MPH@GW http://www.unorg/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49045#.VD6A12 RDXFQ http://www.unicef.org/media/media_76085.html