The research found that the rise of fake news could be making disease outbreaks worse. The researchers focused on influenza, monkeypox and norovirus across two studies, testing the effect of sharing dangerously wrong information on human health during a disease outbreak. They believe their findings could also be useful for dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak.

Examples of risky behaviour during infectious disease outbreaks include not washing hands, sharing food with ill people, not disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces, and failing to self-isolate

Covid-19 expert Professor Paul Hunter of UEA's Norwich Medical School explains more: "Worryingly, research has shown that nearly 40 per cent of the British public believes at least one conspiracy theory, and even more in the US and other countries. When it comes to Covid-19, there has been a lot of speculation, misinformation and fake news circulating on the internet − about how the virus originated, what causes it and how it is spread. Misinformation means that bad advice can circulate very quickly − and it can change human behaviour to take greater risks. We have already seen how the rise of the anti-vax movement has created a surge in measles cases around the world. People in West Africa affected by the Ebola outbreak were more likely to practice unsafe burial practices if they believed misinformation. And here in the UK, 14 per cent of parents have reported sending their child to school with symptoms of contagious chickenpox − violating school policies and official quarantine advice.”

Professor Hunter said that examples of risky behaviour during infectious disease outbreaks include not washing hands, sharing food with ill people, not disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces, and failing to self-isolate. He also said that, worryingly, people are more likely to share bad advice on social media than good advice from trusted sources such as the National Health Service (NHS), Public Health England or the World Health Organization.

Collaborator Dr Julii Brainard, who is also based at UEA's Norwich Medical School, provided an insight into the research:  "We tested strategies to reduce misinformation. In our first study, focusing on the flu, monkeypox and norovirus, we found that reducing the amount of harmful advice being circulated by just 10 per cent − from 50 per cent to 40 per cent − mitigated the influence of bad advice on the outcomes of a disease outbreak. Making 20 per cent of the population unable to share or believe harmful advice − or 'immunising' them against fake news – had the same positive effect. Our second study, which focused on norovirus, showed that even if 90 per cent of the advice is good, some disease will still circulate. In our second study, we were also interested in the 'herd immunity' levels required to 'immunise' people against fake news. The modelling suggests that any 'immunity' against bad advice reduces outbreak impacts.”

Dr Brainard said that while the researchers used very sophisticated simulation models, it is important to remember that this is not an observational study based on real behaviour. She stated that the efficacy of implementing such strategies to fight fake news needs to be tested in real-world settings, with costs and benefits ideally compared with real world disease reduction.

So, whether people are scared of Covid-19 or confident it will all blow over soon, it’s important that they source their information from reliable outlets – WHO, the NHS and, of course, ITIJ.