Infodemic: How an Epidemic of Misinformation Could Lead to a High Number of the Novel Corona Virus Disease Cases in Uganda

Betty K. Nannyonga; Rhoda K. Wanyenze; Pontiano Kaleebu; John M. Ssenkusu; Freddie Sengooba; Tom Lutalo; Willford Kirungi; Fredrick Edward Makumbi; Henry Kyobe Bosa; Vincent A. Ssembatya; Henry Mwebesa; Diana Atwine; Jane Ruth Aceng; Yonas Tegegn Woldermariam

doi:10.20944/preprints202006.0009.v1

How to cite: Nannyonga, B.K.; Wanyenze, R.K.; Kaleebu, P.; Ssenkusu, J.M.; Sengooba, F.; Lutalo, T.; Kirungi, W.; Makumbi, F.E.; Kyobe Bosa, H.; Ssembatya, V.A.; Mwebesa, H.; Atwine, D.; Aceng, J.R.; Tegegn Woldermariam, Y. Infodemic: How an Epidemic of Misinformation Could Lead to a High Number of the Novel Corona Virus Disease Cases in Uganda. Preprints 2020, 2020060009. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0009.v1 Nannyonga, B.K.; Wanyenze, R.K.; Kaleebu, P.; Ssenkusu, J.M.; Sengooba, F.; Lutalo, T.; Kirungi, W.; Makumbi, F.E.; Kyobe Bosa, H.; Ssembatya, V.A.; Mwebesa, H.; Atwine, D.; Aceng, J.R.; Tegegn Woldermariam, Y. Infodemic: How an Epidemic of Misinformation Could Lead to a High Number of the Novel Corona Virus Disease Cases in Uganda. Preprints 2020, 2020060009. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0009.v1

Abstract

Misinformation during the COVID-19 outbreak has shaped our perception of the disease. Some people thinkthe disease is a bioweapon while others are convinced that it is a hoax. Heightened anxiety often producesfearful rumors, some of which are absurd while others seem plausible and are laced with some truths. But, how does misinformation affect disease spread? In this paper, we construct a mathematical model parameterized by Ugandan data, to study the effect of misinformation on community COVID-19 spread. The analysis shows that misinformation leads to high number of COVID-19 cases in a community, and the effect is highest in the rumour initiators and spreaders. This analysis underscores the importance of addressing misinformation in COVID risk communication.

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Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Infodemic: How an Epidemic of Misinformation Could Lead to a High Number of the Novel Corona Virus Disease Cases in Uganda

Abstract

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