The Economic Impacts of Epidemics-A case study Ebola epidemic in West Africa

Over times, the world is exposed to the spread of various epidemics which may inflict humans, animals or birds in different areas spreading fears and killing millions of people like Ebola. The strong impact of a particular epidemic depends on the extent of its spread in the infected area and the time it consumes. This study deals with epidemics and their relationship with the economic activities, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), their various economic impacts in general while handling the case study of Ebola epidemic in West Africa in particular as it is considered as the most recent type of the epidemics. The paper assumes that epidemics have direct and indirect negative impacts on all economic and social aspects in the infected areas particularly the poor areas. The paper depends on the descriptive analytical approach and the case study approach. The total economic impacts of epidemics can be calculated in a particular area by calculating the differences the annual growth rates in the scenario case of the epidemic spread in a medium, small or large degree or in the case of the absence of an outbreak of an epidemic and the period length of the epidemic spread. In order to follow up the epidemics spread the study recommended that the international community must act very swiftly to avoid this crisis through the important improved of regional and international cooperation and it is essential to draw on lessons learned from other countries’ experiences.