ABSTRACT
The increasing wave of epidemics and pandemics around the world has of recent accelerated the pace of misinformation and fear mongering. Most of the major epidemics that have rocked West African countries have brought with them information crises characterized by tsunamis of mis/disinformation and epidemics of rumors and panic. This has been reflected by the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the subregion. In effect, the two diseases have witnessed the emergence of a wave of epidemics of scaremongering, rumors, and risks, stemming principally from social media-driven dis/misinformation. This type of information—which the World Health Organization has named Infodemics—have taken the forms of (i) fake or fraudulent cures, (ii) loose news often relayed by both traditional and new media, (iii) exaggerations aimed at instilling fear, anxiety, and panic among West Africans, and (iv) conspiracy theories around “genuine” vaccines and vaccinations. The Infodemics have, in many cases, been a challenge to strategic public health communications and efforts aimed at mitigating pandemics. This information disruption occasioned by Infodemics call for more expedient approaches in dissemination of public health-related information and retooling audience attitudes during periods of pandemics in the region and around the world.
