Counting the far-reaching costs of an epidemic

Ebola effect may exceed previous estimates as it shows up in more countries, reports Bloomberg.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has raised concerns that it may spread internationally and have a similar economic impact as the SARS epidemic in 2002 and 2003.

"Fear of contagion, very early, would lead to a reduction in people's willingness to travel, eat in restaurants, drink in bars, and quite frankly do anything social," Andrew Zarnett, a Deutsche Bank AG analyst based in New York, said in a note to investors.