By Precious Mark
The United Nations (UN) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could cost African economies up to $3.6 billion, wipe out hundreds of thousands of jobs, and push nearly one million more people into poverty if the crisis is not contained quickly.
The warning was contained in a new report, titled Rapid Socioeconomic Assessment of Ebola Outbreak in the DRC, released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to the report, the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has already triggered a far-reaching socioeconomic crisis across the region.
The DRC government stated that the outbreak has infected 1,333 people and killed 399 since it was declared on May 15, 2026.
A smaller number of cases has also been reported in Uganda, while experts have raised concerns about a possible spread to South Sudan, Rwanda, and Angola. There is currently no tested vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain.
The UNDP said the outbreak could push an additional 985,000 people into poverty in the DRC, with women disproportionately affected. It added that the epidemic also risks eliminating tens of thousands of jobs and disrupting healthcare and education services.
The agency outlined three scenarios for the outbreak. In the best-case scenario, if the epidemic remains contained within the DRC and Uganda, Congo’s GDP loss would be about $1 billion.
In the worst-case scenario, if the disease spreads to countries including Rwanda and Angola and coincides with higher fuel costs linked to the Iran crisis, Africa’s GDP could shrink by $3.6 billion, resulting in 328,000 job losses.
Damien Mama, the UNDP Resident Representative in Congo, said six out of 10 people in the DRC already live below the poverty line and that over 90% of confirmed cases are clustered around Ituri province, a key hub for cross-border trade.
He warned that the outbreak is more than a health crisis because jobs are disappearing, markets are slowing, and families are being pushed to the edge.
The UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa said the virus was affecting livelihoods, education, food security, trade, public finances, and trust. She said that if the outbreak is treated solely as a health challenge, the continent risks missing the much larger development emergency unfolding around it.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also stated that the response remains below the level required to interrupt transmission rapidly, noting that treatment facilities are nearing saturation and infection prevention readiness is insufficient.
“If we have the resources and we step up, we can contain this outbreak and prevent further losses. If we do not, this health emergency risks becoming a much deeper and prolonged development crisis across the region and potentially the continent,” Mama said.