Business leaders are keeping a close eye on the global response to Ebola.

Business New Zealand's Phil O'Reilly says cases in Europe and the United States could have eventually have an impact on our economy as well.

The number of cases is now more than 10,000 - over half of those people have died.

Calls for restrictions on travel and trade are growing, after a doctor in New York doctor was diagnosed with the disease.

Mr O'Reilly says there's likely to be a knock-on effect.

He says freight might be delayed, business people held up and incoming flights disrupted.

Fonterra's West Africa operations affected

Fonterra says Ebola is already affecting its operations in West Africa, where it does about 150 million dollars worth of business a year.

Fonterra says its trade with west Africa is being hit, the business is worth about 150 million dollars a year.

The dairy giant says it's looking for other markets, as there's every sign the impact could go on for some time.

But Business New Zealand's Phil O'Reilly says it's unlikely many other New Zealand firms will be severely affected.

He says Fonterra is one of only a few New Zealand businesses with an interest in that part of the world.

Phil O'Reilly says other firms could be affected by restrictions to travel and trade.