January 28, 2016 at 01:22Media reports hinder the spread of epidemics
Canadian scientists have identified a link between media hysteria about the H1N1 flu epidemic and a reduction in the spread of the epidemic. To do this, they analyzed data from a Chinese province with a population of 36 million people: the number and duration of reports mentioning influenza and the number of hospitalizations.
It is not superfluous to mention that the flu epidemic has begun in Moscow .
Scientists from Shensky Pedagogical University and York University tested in practicethe assumption that mention of epidemics in the media affects the increase in the number of cases. Researchers analyzed A / H1N1 messages from the eight largest news sources operating in Shaanxi Province of China over the three months of 2009. They then compared these data with information about hospitalizations due to the flu.
The more reports were devoted to influenza, the fewer the number of hospitalizations after three to four days. On the contrary, fewer references led to an increase in the number of people entering the hospital with the disease. The statistics were most affected by the work of four out of eight popular resources.
The results were influenced by the duration of news reports: the number of hospitalizations was halved with an increase in the duration of messages over ten days.
Obviously, the media affects the behavior of people, makes them more cautious. People begin to avoid contact with patients, because of which the rate of spread of the virus decreases.
A flu epidemic has begun in Russia. In Moscow, the epidemic threshold is exceeded by 37.8%, and 61% of cases are in children. In total, 50 people died of flu and complications in Russia, an epidemic began in 47 regions . In this case, "swine flu" prevails. Rospotrebnadzor earlier in January published a memo on how to avoid the flu. Do not be ill.
It is not superfluous to mention that the flu epidemic has begun in Moscow .
Scientists from Shensky Pedagogical University and York University tested in practicethe assumption that mention of epidemics in the media affects the increase in the number of cases. Researchers analyzed A / H1N1 messages from the eight largest news sources operating in Shaanxi Province of China over the three months of 2009. They then compared these data with information about hospitalizations due to the flu.
The more reports were devoted to influenza, the fewer the number of hospitalizations after three to four days. On the contrary, fewer references led to an increase in the number of people entering the hospital with the disease. The statistics were most affected by the work of four out of eight popular resources.
The results were influenced by the duration of news reports: the number of hospitalizations was halved with an increase in the duration of messages over ten days.
Obviously, the media affects the behavior of people, makes them more cautious. People begin to avoid contact with patients, because of which the rate of spread of the virus decreases.
A flu epidemic has begun in Russia. In Moscow, the epidemic threshold is exceeded by 37.8%, and 61% of cases are in children. In total, 50 people died of flu and complications in Russia, an epidemic began in 47 regions . In this case, "swine flu" prevails. Rospotrebnadzor earlier in January published a memo on how to avoid the flu. Do not be ill.