Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2020 | Coronavirus | Commentary
Coronavirus: the spread of misinformation
Authors:
Areeb Mian, Shujhat Khan
Published in:
BMC Medicine
|
Issue 1/2020
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Excerpt
There has been a global rise recently in the spread of misinformation that has plagued the scientific community and public. Disconnect between scientific consensus and members of the public on topics such as vaccine safety, the shape of the earth, or climate change has existed for a number of years. However, this has progressively worsened as society has become further divided in the political climate of today. In turn, it has created an optimal environment for antiscience groups to gain footing and propagate their false theories and information. The public health crisis emerging due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) is also now beginning to feel the effects of misinformation. …