A report developed by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Framework (GPMB), an initiative supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, tracked the main risk factors for a new pandemic. According to the document, misinformation is one of the aspects that can increase the threat of a new global outbreak caused by a virus or bacteria.
According to the reportlaunched at the 15th World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, effective communication can be vital during pandemics to inform the public and guide behavior to mitigate the spread of disease.
However, the rapid spread of misinformation and fake news, boosted by social media, in particular, can lead to “infodemic “, a phenomenon characterized by the large amount of information, both precise and imprecise, which can cause confusion among the population.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, misinformation has spread globally, making it difficult to adopt protective behaviors and undermining adherence to public health measures. It fueled panic, mental anguish and social polarization, exacerbated by social media algorithms that amplified echo chambers and stigmatization,” the document says.
“Strategies to mitigate the harm caused by the infodemic are still in their early stages, but will certainly require long-term efforts to build and maintain trust in health authorities and science, as well as clear regulatory frameworks that prioritize public health and to the preservation of social cohesion. These measures are necessary long before future crises,” he adds.
Social, economic, political, climatic and technological aspects are among the risk factors
In total, the report describes 15 main drivers of the risk of a new pandemic, characterized into five distinct groups: social, technological, environmental, economic and political.
Lack of trust between and within countries, social inequality, intensive agriculture and global mobility, including the movement of humans and animals to different regions of the globe, are among the main threats described in the report.
The document also identifies new risks outside of traditional health factors. Digital connectivity, for example, has allowed scientists to rapidly sequence and share pathogen data and adapt responses increasingly quickly, according to the report.
However, this digital footprint leaves healthcare systems and societies exposed. Cyberattacks, greater threats to biosecurity and the rapid spread of misinformation increase the risk of a pandemic, in the authors’ view.
“The next pandemic will not wait for us to perfect our systems,” says Joy Phumaphi, co-chair of the GPMB and former Minister of Health of Botswana, in statement. “We must invest now in resilient and equitable primary health systems to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
Preparedness for future pandemics must encompass human, animal and environmental health
The report also lists and emphasizes future pandemic preparedness strategies that must be carried out by different nations. According to the document, “the willingness to create flexibility in response, proactively protect society and invest in collaborative efforts can significantly reduce risk and increase preparedness.”
The report’s authors say all nations must strengthen their health systems, prioritize social protection and ensure essential health services are available to all communities, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Additionally, preparedness must incorporate strategies that span the interfaces of human, animal, and environmental health. The report calls for greater collaboration across sectors to mitigate risks associated with pandemics, recognizing that the health of one sector is intrinsically linked to the health of others.
“We have a narrow window of opportunity to rethink global preparedness: assess risks that extend far beyond the health sector and address some of them much more proactively, in a way that is adapted to each context”, says Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović , co-president of the GPMB and former president of Croatia, in the statement.
“Vigilance, adaptability and collaboration must define our preparedness now, so that this is incorporated into the response.”
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This content was originally published in Misinformation may increase the risk of a new pandemic, says a report on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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