The World Bank has revised downwards its 2014 GDP growth projections for the three nations worst hit by the current Ebola outbreak - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
"The Ebola epidemic continues to cripple the economies," it said.
Its report comes as bank President Jim Yong Kim begins a two-day visit to West Africa to assess the impact.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says 5,987 people have died from Ebola in the three nations.
The latest World Bank report still shows positive projected growth there for 2014, but at much lower rates.
It said that "all three countries had been growing rapidly in recent years and into the first half of 2014".
World Bank growth estimatesLiberia 2014: Pre-crisis 5.9%; October 2.5%; Now 2.2%
Sierra Leone 2014: Pre-crisis 11.3%; October 8%; Now 4%
Guinea 2014: Pre-crisis 4.5%; October 2.4%; Now 0.5%
Liberia 2015: Pre-crisis 6.8%; October 1%; Now 3%
Sierra Leone 2015: Pre-crisis 8.9%; October 7.7%; Now -2%
Guinea 2015: Pre-crisis 4.3%; October 2%; Now -0.2%
Source: World Bank
The bank is now also projecting negative growth for two of the nations in 2015 - Guinea and Sierra Leone.
End QuoteEvery day the Ebola burial teams collect about 60 bodies from around Freetown. About 20% turn out to be Ebola cases. Every death is now treated as suspicious"
The bank adds: "In Liberia, where there are signs of progress in containing the epidemic and some increasing economic activity, the updated 2015 growth estimate is 3%, an increase from 1% in October but still less than half the pre-crisis estimate of 6.8%."
It says: "These latest projections imply forgone income across the three countries in 2014-15 totalling more than $2bn."
Mr Kim said: "This report reinforces why zero Ebola cases must be our goal. While there are signs of progress, as long as the epidemic continues, the human and economic impact will only grow more devastating."
The World Bank has said it is mobilising $1bn in financing for the worst-hit nations.
'Gap closing'On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the 60-day goals it had set itself for tackling Ebola in the three nations were largely met.
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WHO's Bruce Aylward: "We've reached an important milestone along the way but that is not going to get you to zero"
The WHO had set a target of isolating and treating 70% of patients and of safely burying 70% of victims in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea by 1 December.
Dr Bruce Aylward, the assistant director general in charge of Ebola response for the WHO, said only the treatment figure in Sierra Leone had fallen below the mark.
Dr Aylward said the "yawning gap" between disease levels and the capacity to cope had narrowed significantly.
But he warned: "There is no room for optimism when you are dealing with the Ebola virus. It's not about low numbers, it's about zero."
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Tony Banbury: "The goal is absolutely zero human cases of Ebola"
Earlier, the head of the UN Ebola response mission in West Africa, Tony Banbury, told the BBC there was still a "huge risk" the disease could spread to other parts of the world.
Speaking in Sierra' Leone's capital, Freetown, Mr Banbury said: "It may spread around this sub-region, or someone could get on a plane to Asia, Latin America, North America or Europe... that is why it is so important to get down to zero cases as quickly as possible".
Ebola burials
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Many volunteer grave-diggers in Sierra Leone have seen their pre-Ebola jobs disappear
- Bodies still contain high levels of the Ebola virus
- At least 20% of new infections occur during burials, WHO says
- Relatives perform religious rites including touching or washing the body
- Safe burial process involves observing rituals differently, such as "dry ablution"
- Volunteers with full protective clothing are trained to handle and disinfect bodies
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this article? Share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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