How outbreaks have reshaped the modern era.
A horizontal timeline of major infectious disease events since 1918, paired with a stacked view of the global death burden by decade across the dominant infectious diseases.
Key milestones in modern outbreak history
1918
Spanish Flu (H1N1) — Estimated 50–100 million deaths globally. The largest pandemic in modern recorded history, accelerating international health cooperation and the eventual formation of the WHO in 1948.
1976
First Ebola Outbreak — Identified simultaneously in Sudan and the DRC (then Zaire). The virus was named after the Ebola River. CFR in the DRC outbreak reached 88%. First described as a new species of filovirus.
2003
SARS-CoV-1 — Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome spread to 29 countries within months, killing 774 people. The outbreak revealed critical gaps in global surveillance and led directly to the 2005 International Health Regulations revision.
2014
West Africa Ebola — The largest Ebola epidemic in history. Over 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths across Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The outbreak drove development of the first approved Ebola vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV).
2020
COVID-19 Pandemic — SARS-CoV-2 caused the first global pandemic since 1918. Over 7 million confirmed deaths (estimated 15–20 million excess deaths). The fastest vaccine development in history: first approved doses within 11 months of genome publication.
Informational only — not medical advice. Information here is summarized from WHO, CDC, ECDC and disease.sh public feeds and is for general education. Always consult a licensed physician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.