Ebola's ripple effects put Africa's economic recovery in jeopardy

London

THE economic effects of Ebola in Africa are proving hard to quarantine even in the 49 of 54 countries that are untouched by the virus.

Corporate events are being cancelled, international investors are declining to visit and multinationals are on high alert.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday reduced its forecast for economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa this year to 5 per cent from 5.5 per cent - the lower forecast is due in part to "economic spillovers starting to materialise" from the outbreak.

The ripple effects present a fresh challenge to Africa's economic progress, which is heavily dependent on foreign in…