Remembering Ebola: Fifty Years of Loss, Courage, and Resolve

Lobby Gallery

August 10, 2026 – July 30,2027

This exhibition is offered in a spirit of remembrance, gratitude, and renewed commitment.

Fifty years have passed since Ebola virus disease was first identified in 1976 during outbreaks in what are now the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. Since then, Ebola has profoundly affected the lives of families, communities, health workers, scientists, public health teams, and responders across Central, East, and West Africa and beyond.

The 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic—the largest in history—demonstrated the devastating impact of Ebola when it reached dense urban areas and strained fragile health systems.

CDC’s work on Ebola has long encompassed outbreak investigation, laboratory diagnosis, high-containment research, field response, training, emergency preparedness, and collaboration with partners in the United States and around the world. Atlanta’s role in this history reflects both scientific responsibility and public service: a commitment to understanding Ebola, improving readiness, supporting affected countries, and reducing the human toll of future outbreaks.

As visitors move through the exhibit, we invite reflection on both the human cost of Ebola virus disease and the progress made because so many people refused to look away. The story of Ebola is a story of mourning and courage, but also of discovery, innovation, solidarity, and enduring resolve.