Objective: Social media has become an important tool in monitoring infectious disease outbreaks such as coronavirus disease 2019 and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Influenced by the recent announcement of a possible human death from H5N2 avian influenza, we analyzed tweets collected from X (formerly Twitter) to describe the messaging regarding the HPAI outbreak, including mis- and dis-information, concerns, and health education.
Methods: We collected tweets involving keywords relating to HPAI for 5 days (June 04 to June 08, 2024). Using topic modeling, emotion, sentiment, and user demographic analyses, we were able to describe the population and the HPAI-related topics that users discussed.
Results: With an original pool of 14,796 tweets, we analyzed a final data set of 13,319 tweets from 10,421 unique X users, with 50.4% of the tweets exhibiting negative sentiments (< 0 on a scale of -4 to +4). Predominant emotions were anger and fear shown in 36.4% and 29.5% of tweets, respectively. We identified 5 distinct, descriptive topics within the tweets. The use of emotionally charged language and spread of misinformation were substantial.
Conclusions: Mis- and dis-information about the causes of and ways to prevent HPAI infections were common. A large portion of the tweets contained references to a planned epidemic or "plandemic" to influence the upcoming 2024 US presidential election. These tweets were countered by a limited number of tweets discussing infection locations, case reports, and preventive measures. Our study can be used by public health officials and clinicians to influence the discourse on current and future outbreaks.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/ash.2024.471 | DOI Listing |
Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol
January 2025
Clinical Informatics Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA.
Objective: Social media has become an important tool in monitoring infectious disease outbreaks such as coronavirus disease 2019 and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Influenced by the recent announcement of a possible human death from H5N2 avian influenza, we analyzed tweets collected from X (formerly Twitter) to describe the messaging regarding the HPAI outbreak, including mis- and dis-information, concerns, and health education.
Methods: We collected tweets involving keywords relating to HPAI for 5 days (June 04 to June 08, 2024).
BMC Infect Dis
August 2024
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Blantyre, Malawi.
Background: The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were rolled out in many countries; however, sub-optimal COVID-19 vaccine uptake remains a major public health concern globally. This study aimed at assessing the factors that affected the uptake, hesitancy, and resistance of the COVID-19 vaccine among university undergraduate students in Malawi, a least developed country in Africa.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted using an online semi-structured questionnaire.
Hum Vaccin Immunother
December 2023
School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Vaccine hesitancy is a complex, context-specific issue that negatively impacts vaccine uptake. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine mis- and dis-information on social media negatively impacted on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. University students' beliefs and behaviors surrounding vaccine decision-making is less studied, but this population is important in disease transmission, vaccine uptake and effectiveness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Ind Med
January 2024
Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Background: Despite some emerging lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence suggests the world remains largely underprepared for-and vulnerable to-similar threats in the future.
Methods: In 2022, researchers at the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) led a team of volunteers to explore how future disruptions, such as pandemics, might impact work and the practice of occupational safety and health (OSH). This qualitative inquiry was framed as a strategic foresight project and included a series of activities designed to help better understand, prepare for, and influence the future.
Front Public Health
September 2023
Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.
Objectives: We aimed to develop and test the feasibility of a critical health literacy (CHL) and science literacy (SL) training course targeting secondary school students in Switzerland.
Methods: Using a community-based participatory approach, we developed a two-block training program, the first centered on argumentation skills and the second on scientific skills. We combined an ex-cathedra and a flipped-classroom approach, providing students with a deep understanding of CHL and SL concepts and the translational capability of implementing theoretical notions to real case scenarios.
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