"You want to hear an Ebola joke? You probably…

The Western African Ebola virus epidemic (2013-2016) led to this “joke”:

“You want to hear an Ebola joke? You probably won’t get it.”

“Get it” refers to both the joke and the disease. Similar jokes have been told about Social Security and the coronavirus.

The joke went viral in 2014. “I could make an Ebola joke..but you won’t get it” was posted on Twitter by Omorapala• on July 29, 2014. “Do you want to hear a joke about Ebola? Well too bad, you’re not going to get it” was posted on Twitter by chape on October 10, 2014. “Have you heard my joke about the Ebola outbreak yet? Eh… Nevermind. You probably won’t get it” was posted on Reddit—Jokes on October 13, 2014.

Wikipedia: West African Ebola virus epidemic
The Western African Ebola virus epidemic (2013–2016) was the most widespread outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in history—causing major loss of life and socioeconomic disruption in the region, mainly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The first cases were recorded in Guinea in December 2013; later, the disease spread to neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone, with minor outbreaks occurring elsewhere. It caused significant mortality, with the case fatality rate reported which was initially considerable, while the rate among hospitalized patients was 57–59%, the final numbers 28,616 people, including 11,310 deaths, for a case-fatality rate of 40%.

Twitter
Omorapala•
@TheFxla__
Replying to @DolaPosh
@DolaPosh I could make an Ebola joke..but you won’t get it
10:56 AM · Jul 29, 2014·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
chape
@chasejensen16
Do you want to hear a joke about Ebola?
Well too bad, you’re not going to get it.
4:51 PM · Oct 10, 2014·Twitter for iPhone

Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/yourfriendkyle October 13, 2014
Have you heard my joke about the Ebola outbreak yet?
Eh… Nevermind. You probably won’t get it.

Twitter
Jono Yates
@jonoBLITZ
I want to tweet an ebola joke but I doubt you’ll get it.
7:32 AM · Oct 17, 2014·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Neil Noble
@buzz_para
I’d tell an ebola joke, but YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GET IT.
11:25 PM · Oct 20, 2014·Twitter for iPad

Twitter
Men’s Humor
@MensHumor
Here’s a joke about ebola, you probably won’t get it though.
2:00 PM · Oct 24, 2014·Twitter Ads

Twitter
Anonymous
@YourAnonNews
I could tell you an Ebola joke, but you probably won’t get it. Via
@pictureplane
6:02 PM · Oct 24, 2014·Twitter for Android

Twitter
Alan Garner
@AIanHangover
Here’s a joke about ebola, you probably won’t get it though
11:31 PM · Oct 26, 2014·Buffer

Twitter
Lloyd Legalist
@LloydLegalist
Want to hear an Ebola joke?
You probably won’t get it.
(Drops mic and walks off stage).
11:30 AM · Oct 28, 2014·Twitter for Mac

Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/yourfriendkyle May 10, 2015
Have you heard my joke about the Ebola outbreak yet?
Eh… Nevermind. You probably won’t get it.

Google Books
Palindromes, Paraprosdokians, and Posters
By Rand Gee
Lulu Press (Lulu.com)
2017
Pg. 117:
I’d tell you an Ebola joke, but you won’t get it.

Twitter
VegasDawg
@tracyvegas
Replying to @MCBazacoPhD
Me: Hey did you hear the joke about novel coronavirus? Them: No. Me: Eh. You probably won’t get it. Sorry. Just re-hashing an old ebola joke.
2:58 PM · Jan 26, 2020·Twitter for iPhone

“You want to hear an Ebola joke? You probably won’t get it”