Poster giving information about Ebola

Poster giving information about Ebola, produced for use with the local population during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, 2014-2015

Using illustrations, this poster gives information shows how the Ebola spreads including through contact with bodily fluids of someone who has the virus, to seek medical help as soon as possible, symptoms including fever, muscle pain, headache, bleeding and diarrhoea. People were also advised to avoid contact with people who had Ebola and died. At the time this poster was published, the likelihood of dying of Ebola was around 90% and no vaccine or treatment was available.

The West African epidemic of Ebola that began in 2014 was the most widespread outbreak of the virus disease in history—causing major loss of life and disruption to society and the economy, mainly in the countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It became international news and prompted an international medical response. In June 2016 when Guinea was the last country to be declared free of Ebola, there were more than 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths. Since 2021, a vaccine has been available to protect high-risk populations and frontline workers.