The Paperboy Archive

How We Got Here

Trace how a story evolved through years of news headlines

Ebola

The outbreaks that terrified the world before Covid arrived

1,566headlines

2007 – 2025

2 chapters

Based on 1,566 headlines from 2007–2025, curated from public RSS feeds and organised into 2 chapters through computational analysis. Suggest a topic for us to consider adding.

Coverage IntensityPeak: Oct 2014 (485 headlines)

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THE VIRUS LURKS SILENTLY

Sep 2007 – Jan 2013

Sporadic and localized outbreaks in remote regions kept the virus contained but deadly, drawing limited international attention.

12 headlines

11 Sept 07

Ebola Outbreak Confirmed in CongoNew York Times

24 Jan 09

Pig-to-Human Ebola Case Suspected in PhilippinesNew York Times

7 Feb 09

Obituaries: William T. Close, Who Helped Control Ebola Epidemic in Congo, Dies at 84New York Times

WEST AFRICA FACES CATASTROPHE

Jul 2014 – Mar 2015

A massive, unprecedented epidemic swept through West Africa, forcing the global community to scramble for a coordinated emergency response.

1,243 headlines

1 Jul 14

In pictures: Battling Ebola in West AfricaBBC World

2 Jul 14

WHO calls emergency Ebola meetingBBC World

4 Jul 14

African states agree Ebola strategyBBC World

7 Jul 14