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Ghosts in Libraries: CDC Zombies Campaign

This resource is about finding information on ghosts in libraries. We don't think Malpass Library is haunted, but let us know if you think otherwise.

Introduction

The Public Health Matters blog included an article from the CDC titled "Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse" in 2011. The article served as an illustration of entertaining learning. In order to encourage being ready for various calamities and disasters, it made advantage of a well-known cultural allusion to zombies. The campaign has since been ended. Material about this campaign was distributed to government document depositories across the USA including Malpass Library.

Links

Did the CDC Promote Zombie Readiness?

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Zombie campaign was a public health initiative launched in May 2011 to raise awareness about emergency preparedness in the event of a disaster or epidemic. The campaign used the concept of a zombie apocalypse as a creative way to encourage people to be prepared for any kind of emergency.

The campaign was a unique approach to promoting emergency preparedness. The concept of a zombie apocalypse was used as a metaphor for any disaster that could happen unexpectedly and require immediate action. The campaign used humor and pop culture references to engage with a younger audience and to make the topic of emergency preparedness more approachable and relatable.

The campaign included several elements, including a blog post, a graphic novel, a zombie-themed social media campaign, and a zombie preparedness kit. The blog post titled "Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse" was one of the most popular elements of the campaign. It provided practical advice on how to prepare for an emergency, such as creating an emergency kit, making a family communication plan, and staying informed about potential hazards.

The graphic novel, "Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic," was another key element of the campaign. It depicted a fictional zombie outbreak and provided information on how to prepare for an emergency, as well as how to recognize and respond to symptoms of illness.

The CDC also used social media to promote the campaign, creating a "Zombie Preparedness" blog and a Twitter hashtag, #zombieapocalypse, which encouraged people to share their own emergency preparedness tips and strategies.

The campaign received a lot of attention from the media and the public, with many people praising the CDC for using humor and pop culture to make emergency preparedness more accessible and engaging. However, some critics felt that the campaign was frivolous and trivialized the seriousness of real emergencies.

The CDC Zombie campaign was ended in 2021, with the agency stating that it had achieved its goal of raising awareness about emergency preparedness. The campaign remains a popular example of a successful public health campaign that used creative and unconventional methods to get its message across.

Books