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About the newsletter
- Our monthly issues highlight CDC's global work and impact.
- Receive up-to-date information on global public health issues, emerging diseases and outbreaks, and policy developments.
- Explore our success stories, health campaigns, news, videos, publications, and more.
Our latest issue
Reflecting on a Historic Ebola Response
Ten years ago, the Ebola epidemic in West Africa shook the world, ultimately claiming more than 11,000 lives. On July 9, 2014, CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center. Nearly 1,500 CDC staff were deployed to West Africa, working side by side with healthcare workers and Ministries of Health to contain the outbreak.
The size and scope of this devastating epidemic illustrated the need for stronger, sustainable disease detection and prevention capacity worldwide. The world is more connected and crowded than it has ever been. Even ten years later, the ability for a spillover of Ebola from the forests of Guinea to spread to the major urban areas of West Africa and on to destinations that are just a few hours away by plane, means we need to take this very seriously.
The best way we can honor the many people who lost their lives to this tragedy, and the responders from 2014, is to learn from their experiences – and continue transforming global health.
Investments in the core emerging infectious diseases work – like genomic sequencing and advanced molecular detection, and recent innovations with wastewater surveillance and traveler-based genomic surveillance, gives CDC and global partners actionable data and a cadre of trained responders that helps us identify and respond to outbreaks faster and save lives. These innovative technologies form a comprehensive system that allows us to better detect and respond to infectious diseases at anywhere around the world.
Video: Looking back, looking forward
Learn about the legacy of the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa from public health staff who were there.
In their own words
Listen to oral histories from CDC responders like Desmond Williams, MD, PhD, who led response efforts in both Sierra Leone and Liberia and says, “Ebola has been teaching us lessons from the start of this outbreak, and it’s still teaching us lessons today”.
The costs of outbreaks
Epidemics have wide-reaching impacts on the global economy, healthcare systems, travel, and more. Read more about the costs of the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
Stopping recent outbreaks in their tracks
Thanks to global health security investments, the capacity Guinea has to stop public health emergencies has come a long way since the 2014 Ebola epidemic. In 2021, a deadly Ebola outbreak was stopped quickly, saving lives, and preventing wider spread.
The power of people
Discover how CDC-trained disease detectives in Uganda played a critical role in stopping Ebola and how they continue to fight – and win – against other health threats every day.
Global health security protects us all
The 2014 Ebola response was the catalyst for significant U.S. investment in global health security worldwide. CDC is at the forefront of global health security efforts, helping to detect and contain outbreaks quickly, before they spread, cause deaths, and disrupt economies.
Where we work
Learn more about how CDC works to protect health in West Africa and countries around the world: