Effective health communication during an infectious disease outbreak is crucial for influencing the public and helping to contain disease. An EU-funded study worked on a behavioural and communication package to convey relevant messages to the public.
In recent years, and with the advent of air travel, epidemics such as bird flu have become much more widespread. The H1N1 outbreak in 2009 and more recently the Ebola virus in west Africa represent two such examples, having spread rapidly due to slow communication between global health authorities and local health organisations.
Further details: Health communication during an outbreak