Virus myths: Don't spread the infodemic

There’s more than one virus at play right now. Thanks to the pandemic, we’re also fighting an infodemic – the viral spread of misinformation.

The beauty of the infodemic is that, like washing your hands properly in the first place, the battle plan is simple. Apply the same principles we should be using already: Healthy skepticism. Verify. Consider the source.

Any claim related to a health issue (i.e., COVID-19) is hardly credible if it isn’t sourced from a broadly recognized and respected health authority. That means more than one doctor or scientist – peer review is essential in medicine.

That should go without saying, but in practice, it’s not happening enough.

Please don’t simply forward a social-media share on such an important topic without checking it out. Tempted to believe? If a link or reported source doesn’t connect directly to the Centers for Disease Control or other major health vetting authority such as Mayo Clinic, World Health Organization, or Panhandle Health District, don’t believe it until you can verify it that way.

Simple enough, yet somehow the ridiculous pervades.

Some of the claims making rounds – all falling somewhere between unverifiable and blatantly false - are:

“COVID-19 is a lab-developed bioweapon from China” (false). The introduction, “I am a senior Chinese military intelligence officer and I know the truth” should be clue number one, but people are gullible. According to Snopes.com, this story was originally published as fiction on Reddit, then republished by something called UFO Spotlight (shouldn’t that be the second clue?). Somehow fiction grew to paranoia.

Other China-related conspiracy theories debunked by Snopes describe a train car full of the virus, a suitcase full of dead birds (true, but above-board) carrying the virus (false, because animals can’t spread COVID-19), and an image of “sulfur” emissions allegedly from mass burning of infected corpses (which wasn’t real and which wouldn’t produce sulfur clouds anyway).

“Your pet can infect you.” FALSE! Tragically, people in some cities are abandoning or killing pets believing it will protect them. According to the CDC, humans can’t catch the virus from pets.

“Saline rinses/garlic/other immune boosters prevent it” (false). The CDC and WHO say there is no evidence daily rinsing nasal passages with saline prevents or shortens respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, although it can help with the common cold.

Same goes for eating garlic, binging vitamin C, and other immune-boosting health habits. Yes, Nobel winner Linus Pauling years ago lauded vitamin C. Yes, in Wuhan they’re working on a C trial, but results are months away and we already know it’s not virus magic. Healthy habits never hurt, but there is no such prevention or cure, yet.

“Red Cross is giving away home tests” and “Baby formula is free” (both false). Scams, pure and simple. The Red Cross is regularly impersonated by criminals; the real deal will not knock on your door offering anything.

“Summer/hot/cold climates will kill it” (false). According to WHO and other health sites, the virus is transmittable in all climates. Same goes for hot baths, although they can be comforting.

“Mosquito bites transmit it” (false). This virus is respiratory, transmitted by tiny droplets from an infected person’s nose or mouth, not biting bugs.

“Hair/hand dryers can kill it” (false). Handwashing, soap, or alcohol-based rub can kill the germ before it infects.

“Intense ultraviolet light can kill it” (false). Plus physicians surprisingly say burning your skin with radiation is bad.

“Spraying your body with chlorine or alcohol will kill/prevent it” (false/impractical). See radiation comment, and what are you going to do – repeat 20 times daily?

“(Any current/past/known) vaccine prevents it” (false). Let’s hope we get there by next year, but not yet. And remember, antibiotics don’t affect viruses. They work only on bacteria.

Google is working with the World Health Organization and other authorities on debunking, connecting searchers with official sources when search terms are likely to lead to more mythical hits.

That the usual spread of misinformation is now centered around a very serious topic shouldn’t feed our fears. Instead, it’s an opportunity – the chance to improve and become more responsible information-sharers, to learn to sift the reliable wheat from the intelligence-shrinking chaff in this ever-growing field of information.

If this pandemic experience can teach us anything it’s a greater sense of social responsibility – of mind as well as body.

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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network who finds research remarkably quick and easy, once the right habits kick in. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.