At what cost to Latin America of Zika virus outbreak? – RPP News

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The outbreak of the virus zika would cost the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean about US $ 4,000 million the loss of income and the tax effect, 0.07% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the region .

This was estimated by the World Bank (WB), entity explained that d e this figure, US $ 3,500 million will be revenue lost as a result of viruses, 0.06% of GDP in the region, and 420 million tax effect, 0.01% of GDP.

Recall that the World Health Organization (wHO) has warned that the number of cases of this epidemic could . this year to four million

aid package

the institution also announced that it will make available to Latin America and the Caribbean, “immediately”, US $ 150 million for the combating the zika , a virus related to the increase in cases of microcephaly among newborns in the region

. added it is prepared to “increase support “financial if necessary

How will lose

it should be noted that the entity above that in the short term Mexico and Cuba, two of the countries that receive more tourists in the region, will also be the most impacted by the zika .

Mexico lost US $ 744 million in revenue, which will add US $ 80 million in lost tax revenue, while Cuba will stop entering US $ 664 million.

Dominican Republic lost US $ 318 million, US $ 310 million Brazil and Argentina US $ 229 million.

in relation to GDP, the most affected country is Belize, which lost 1.22% of its gross domestic product in revenue, while the estimate for Cuba is 0.86% of GDP.

also some island states could lose revenue representing up to 1.6% of GDP and that most of the affected countries, the fiscal impact could be around 0.3% of GDP.

the institution urged countries concerned to control as quickly as possible spread of the virus.

“Act now and quickly to control the spread of this disease would be marginal costs but could provide big returns to help prevent much greater economic impacts in the medium term, “he said.

the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, said the analysis of the institution” underlines the importance of urgent action to halt the spread of the Zika and to protect the welfare of the peoples of the countries concerned. “

the World Bank also warned that if the link between sexually transmitted virus Zika Guillain syndrome is confirmed Barre, “the impacts could be much larger and will need to be reassessed.”

With information from EFE

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