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WHO's SOS Alert Aims to Shut Down Coronavirus Rumor Mill

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The World Health Organization is warning that false
   information circulating on social media about the new coronavirus is
   hampering efforts to tackle the epidemic. This fast moving disease so
   far has infected more than 20,000 people and killed at least 427. The
   overwhelming number of cases and all but two deaths have occurred in
   China.

   Health officials say a disease epidemic is likely to quickly generate
   an epidemic of information. This is not unusual, they explain, because
   at the start of an outbreak, a lot is unknown about the nature of the
   disease and the risks it entails.

   Unfortunately, they say the search for answers often triggers a lot of
   misinformation and harmful rumors. Sylvie Briand is the director of
   WHO's Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness unit. She says trying to
   deal with the mass of false information and rumors circulating on
   social media is challenging.

   "A few centuries ago, this phenomenon existed as well. But at that time
   there was no social media and so the information was spreading as well,
   but much slower than now," said Briand. "Now, the information is
   spreading very fast and is amplified immediately in every corner of the
   world, basically. This speed is very difficult to address in a timely
   manner."

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