Misinformation during disease outbreaks can be difficult to address when there is some truth in it
At least two people died after drinking salt water which some believed was a treatment for Ebola during the 2014–2016 epidemic in West Africa. Rumors that bathing in and drinking salt water would treat Ebola were shared on social media platforms such as Twitter. These types of rumors that promote products or practices that have not been tested and shown to be safe or effective to prevent or treat a disease are typical during epidemics of new viruses (such as the SARS-CoV-2) that have no vaccine or treatment. Fueled by fear, these rumors can spread quicker than true health information.
Certain types of misinformation are easier to identify and address than others because the source or threat to the public’s health is obvious. For example, the FDA recently asked seven companies to stop selling fake products that claim to treat or prevent COVID-19. We know that fake medications can have negative health effects, including death.
Public health authorities in each country should have a process for citizens to report and verify whether information seen on social media and other digital platforms is true or false.
In contrast, misinformation about prevention which usually promotes claims that a certain behavior can limit the risk of infection can be difficult to address. For example, misinformation spreading on WhatsApp include claims that eating garlic every day or drinking hot water with lemon will prevent coronavirus disease. These messages target cultural believes that these products can be used to manage flu-like symptoms. While garlic has nutritional value, there is no scientific evidence that people who eat garlic cannot be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Convincing people that this is misinformation is hard because the text is partly true (i.e., garlic is good for your health) but the claims about the coronavirus are false.
However, it is important that we do not ignore this type of misinformation because it appears harmless. First, if public health authorities do not address this type of misinformation, some people might assume that it is true. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a Myth Busters page that addresses misinformation. But new rumors that are sometimes different based on culture and region are constantly emerging. Public health authorities in each country should have a process for citizens to report and verify whether information seen on social media and other digital platforms is true or false. The reporting process should be set up such that anyone can access it, especially the poor and people at risk for severe disease.
It is important for people to know what to do to reduce the risk of becoming infected and why preventive actions (e.g., washing your hands) work.
Second, if such “harmless” misinformation are spread by trusted sources within a community, then those same sources are capable of spreading misinformation that can have a negative impact on health. Third, while the negative impact of eating garlic (for example) is not obvious, messages targeting West Africans have made suggestions about how to insert garlic into fufu (pounded yam, plantain or cassava) to feed to children. Children, a vulnerable population, who do not have a say in how these products are consumed are at risk of being negatively affected. Furthermore, people who believe these claims could chose not to follow advice from the WHO and other trusted sources because they think their actions will protect them from infection. This can make it difficult to control COVID-19 in some communities.
Public health authorities should regularly update their citizens on the status of the COVID-19 epidemic in their countries so that they do not have to seek this information from other sources.
The spread of health misinformation on digital platforms is a major concern during this pandemic. However, the scale and prevalence of health misinformation on the Internet is unknown. The best way to reduce the impact of misinformation during outbreaks is to constantly promote correct health information. It is important for people to know what to do to reduce the risk of becoming infected and why preventive actions (e.g., washing your hands) work. It is also important for people to know that misinformation can have negative health effects, including death. Public health authorities should regularly update their citizens on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in their countries so that they do not have to seek this information from other sources. A well-informed public is the best defense against misinformation.