2014–2016Reputable sourceWell documented
The West Africa Ebola Epidemic
On the timeline · around 2014–2016 · The Modern Age
What happened
In 2014 the largest Ebola outbreak in history erupted in West Africa, spreading through Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The virus, which causes a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever, infected more than 28,000 people and killed over 11,000 before the epidemic was declared over in 2016. Weak health systems and a slow initial response let it spiral.
Why it matters
The West African Ebola epidemic exposed the fragility of global health defences and galvanized reform. It also spurred the development of an effective Ebola vaccine, turning one of the world's most feared diseases into a preventable one.
Sources
- World Health Organization. Ebola Outbreak 2014–2016 — West Africa · Reputable source