Contagion of conspiracy theories makes Ebola epidemic harder to contain - MSN
msn.com
When conspiracy theories spread like viruses, they create a second epidemic that actively undermines the fight against the first — a chilling real-world stress test of social contagion theory.
Social Contagion TheoryInfodemic TheoryEpistemic InjusticeTrust and Cooperation Theory
Theory Briefing
- Ebola's spread is being amplified by conspiracy theories circulating faster than public health messaging can counter them.
- Social contagion theory predicts that misinformation travels through trust networks just as pathogens travel through physical contact.
- Communities refusing treatment or aid due to distrust effectively raise the reproductive number of the outbreak beyond biological control alone.