Skip to main content

4 epidemics that almost happened (but didn't) - George Zaidan

  • 381,784 Views
  • 527 Questions Answered
  • TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

In 2013, an Ebola outbreak began in Guinea. The country had no formal response system and the outbreak became the largest Ebola epidemic in recorded history. Guinea then completely overhauled their response system, and were able to successfully combat another outbreak in 2021. So what does an effective epidemic response look like? George Zaidan explores how different communities have taken action.


Customize this lesson9

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Script Writer George Zaidan
  • Director Gavin Edwards, Movult
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Music Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Anna Bechtol, Sazia Afrin
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer George Zaidan
Additional Resources for you to Explore
COVID-19 has left us all with the lingering question: Will there be another pandemic in my lifetime? Many factors are at play in the answer to that question, but protocols of prevention and response are the greatest tools we have to protect future outbreaks—or at the very least, keep them contained. The 2014 Ebola epidemic demonstrated just how far-reaching the effects of an uncontained health crisis can be— from the direct impacts on families and communities, to the indirect impacts on the global economy, health care system, and beyond.      

Preventive measures can include vaccination programs (read here for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' guidelines for vaccination programs), antibiotic treatments (as have been effective in combatting Cholera outbreaks), and early detection in the event of viral spillovers from animal species. Underlying the majority of these efforts is effective communication strategies that allow for swift and effective action on both local and global levels. To learn more about public health communication strategies, read this 2021 report from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) titled COVID- 19 Communications: Promoting Prevention Measures and Vaccine Confidence.  

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Script Writer George Zaidan
  • Director Gavin Edwards, Movult
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Music Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Anna Bechtol, Sazia Afrin
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer George Zaidan

More from Troubleshooting the World