WHO: Fighting back Misinformation on NCP

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed on 8 February that misinformation on the novel coronavirus would make the job of health workers even harder and cause confusion and spread fear to the general public. He said that WHO is fighting back with a four-pronged approach.

First, WHO is leveraging its existing network called EPI-WIN - which stands for WHO Information Network for Epidemics. The WHO's risk communications and "infodemic" management team are actively tracking misinformation in multiple languages.

Second, WHO's "infodemics" team is working hand in glove with the communications department to deliver information to a broader public audience. This includes addressing rumors by publishing "myth busters" and Live Q&A interviews with experts on WHO website and social channels and through the media.

Third, WHO is also engaging with search, social and digital companies such as Facebook, Google, Tencent, Baidu, Twitter, TikTok, Weibo and Pinterest, asking them to filter out false information and promote accurate information from credible sources like WHO and CDC.

Fourth, WHO is connecting with influencers through social media and other channels to help spread factual messages to their fans and followers, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.