Social media is mixed blessing in epidemics: WHO

13.oct.11
AFP


World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Margaret Chan said the Geneva-based UN body scans websites and online forums in different languages for indications of outbreaks across the world.
Any potential threat is analysed by experts and, if necessary, investigated, she told an international conference in Singapore on improving preparedness to fight disease outbreaks.
"I can assure you that with the rise of social media, the background noises for rumours have become much louder and making it so much harder to detect the really important segments," she said.
"But this development also makes it extremely hard for any country to hide a public health threat of international concern."