Tag

Misinformation

All articles tagged with #misinformation

health6 hours ago•4 min saved

Clearing the myths: perimenopause, contraception, and hormone options

Social-media misinformation on perimenopause is causing confusion about symptoms and contraception, with some women stopping contraception or chasing unproven remedies. Experts say perimenopause can start in the 40s, symptoms overlap with other conditions, and a GP check is key to accurate diagnosis and pregnancy protection. Contraception choices vary, including newer pills with natural estrogen that may lower clot risk, non-hormonal options, and discussion of HRT; there is no single best method, so personalized guidance is essential.

via The Guardian|

#contraception #health #hrt

health10 hours ago•6 min saved

Outbreaks Ignite Conspiracy Theories Across a Divided America

Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks in the US spark widespread conspiracy theories—ranging from plandemics to anti-vaccine plots—amids social media amplification and distrust in institutions, while funding cuts and political tensions threaten an effective public health response.

via The Guardian|

#conspiracy-theories #ebola #hantavirus

health1 day ago•4 min saved

Social-media myths about perimenopause risk women's health and contraception decisions

Experts warn that misinformation about perimenopause on social media can lead to misdiagnoses, unnecessary medications, and women stopping contraception prematurely. Perimenopause is a transition, not a sudden onset, and contraception may be needed until menopause is confirmed. Health professionals urge evidence-based information and careful medical assessment to prevent harmful decisions and missed diagnoses.

via The Guardian|

#contraception #health #hormone-replacement-therapy

technology2 days ago•6 min saved

Cannes clarifies: AI-generated film wasn’t an official Cannes debut

The Wall Street Journal claimed an AI-generated feature called Hell Grind would debut at Cannes, but festival organizers say it was not on the official program and instead screened at a third‑party venue in Cannes; the producers point to the Marché du Film, a marketplace with no formal festival selection, to back their claims. The piece uses the episode to critique AI hype in cinema and notes a mix of industry reactions, underscoring how marketing can blur what actually qualifies as a Cannes appearance.

via Futurism|

#ai #cannes #cinema

health2 days ago•28 min saved

Pennsylvania school districts linked parents to anti-vaccine sites as immunization gaps widened

A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigation found that at least 20 Pennsylvania school districts linked parents to Vaclib.org, an anti-vaccine site, via exemption forms as vaccination rates fell and herd immunity weakened in dozens of elementary schools. While a state ad campaign aimed to boost immunizations, districts broadly shared the misinformation—some without realizing it—that then was removed after media inquiries. The findings highlight a lack of centralized oversight and enforcement of vaccine laws in Pennsylvania, and raise concerns about contributing to measles risk as districts face divergent messaging about vaccines.

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|

#health #immunization #misinformation

world-africa2 days ago•184 min saved

Misinformation Overshadows Ebola Fight as DRC Outbreak Spreads

Locals in eastern DRC's Ituri and North Kivu say misinformation about Ebola—along with delayed response and lax mask use—is hampering containment as the outbreak grows. The WHO reports about 177 deaths and roughly 750 suspected cases, with cases spreading to Bunia and Goma and nearby Uganda. Traditional funerals, ongoing conflict, and displacement further strain health systems, risking broader crises beyond Ebola. Aid funding gaps and underfunded clinics complicate the response, while officials emphasize building trust with communities and keeping essential health services running as vaccine and treatment efforts continue.

via CNN|

#democratic-republic-of-the-congo #ebola #ituri

health3 days ago•9 min saved

WHO 2026: Post-2030 TB strategy takes shape as SLD and bleeding disorders gain policy traction

At the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly, delegates endorsed developing a post-2030 TB strategy for 2028 and reviewed progress and challenges of the End TB Strategy, noting funding gaps. The Assembly also approved recognizing steatotic liver disease as a growing NCD burden and urged its integration into national plans, while backing stronger care for haemophilia and other bleeding disorders. A strategic roundtable on health mis- and disinformation highlighted the need for multisectoral action and trusted information to safeguard public health.

via World Health Organization (WHO)|

#bleeding-disorders #haemophilia #health

health-policy5 days ago•11 min saved

Two Viruses Test America's Public Health Trust

Public health experts say Ebola and hantavirus pose no immediate threat to most Americans, but the outbreaks reveal a growing trust deficit and political polarization that could hamper responses to current crises and future pandemics.

via Politico|

#ebola #hantavirus #health-policy

technology5 days ago•13 min saved

AI manipulation exposed: chatbots spread lies as Google tightens defenses

BBC’s investigation shows simple online posts can manipulate AI chatbots (including ChatGPT and Google’s AI overviews) to spread biased or false information on topics like health and finances. Google and other firms are updating anti-spam rules and refining how sources are cited, with signs of caveats and downranking for manipulated content. Experts warn these measures are a game of whack-a-mole, and AI tools may still present a single confident answer, so users should verify AI outputs with multiple sources.

via BBC|

#artificial-intelligence #google #misinformation

politics7 days ago•6 min saved

Polis’s Tina Peters clemency faces scrutiny over misleading rationale

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis commuted Tina Peters’ prison sentence, saying she was punished for First Amendment speech about the 2020 election; a fact-check argues her 2021 crimes were tied to efforts to prove 2020 fraud with Lindell allies, and the appellate ruling linked her actions to the 2020 dispute. Peters did not certify Biden’s win in Mesa County, while the decision drew bipartisan criticism and highlighted costs from replacing election equipment after her actions.

via CNN|

#clemency #election-integrity #jared-polis

technology8 days ago•3 min saved

Polymarket's Hantavirus Post Overhypes Case, Experts Say Risk Is Low

Polymarket circulated a post about a suspected hantavirus case in New York, but U.S. hantavirus is not typically spread person-to-person and the NY case appears mild; a sample is at the CDC for confirmation, and experts note the Andes virus on the cruise ship was rare and not linked to the NY case. The article criticizes Polymarket for sensationalism and warns that prediction markets generally mislead and many bettors lose money, urging readers not to panic over this report.

via Gizmodo|

#hantavirus #misinformation #pandemics

health9 days ago•6 min saved

US public health gaps leave nation unprepared for future outbreaks, experts warn

US public health has weakened since Covid, with staffing losses, funding cuts and testing/output bottlenecks that hinder outbreak response. Misinformation and eroding trust complicate risk communication, while global vaccine equity and international collaboration are at risk due to reduced federal leadership. Experts urge pre-bunking myths, clearer messaging, and renewed investment in public health infrastructure and international partnerships to be ready for a next pandemic potentially as bad as or worse than Covid within 25 years.

via The Guardian|

#health #misinformation #pandemic-preparedness

world10 days ago•38 min saved

WHO Refutes Alex Jones’s COVID-2 Theory About Hantavirus

The WHO director dismissed Alex Jones’s claim that hantavirus is “COVID 2.0,” clarifying that hantavirus and SARS-CoV-2 are distinct viruses and that such misinformation can undermine public health efforts; there is no evidence to support Jones’s assertion.

via Forbes|

#alex-jones #covid-19 #hantavirus

politics12 days ago•182 min saved

Patel’s fiery testimony underscored the Trump era’s contempt for congressional oversight

CNN’s Aaron Blake argues that Kash Patel’s congressional testimony exemplified the Trump administration’s disdain for accountability: Patel attacked lawmakers, repeated disputed claims about Sen. Chris Van Hollen and an El Salvador meeting, and invoked a 'convicted gangbanging rapist' line that he’d misrepresented. The piece notes the El Salvador incident involved staged drinks and campaign funds, not taxpayer dollars, and points to a broader pattern of false statements in testimony as checks and balances fray under a GOP-dominated Congress.

via CNN|

#accountability #congress #misinformation

health13 days ago•5 min saved

Celebrity Claims Spark Spike in Unproven Cancer Drugs

New research in JAMA Network Open finds a sharp rise in prescriptions of ivermectin and fenbendazole among cancer patients after Mel Gibson and Joe Rogan publicized anecdotal cures, despite no solid evidence of cancer benefit and fenbendazole not being approved for humans. The seven-month 2025 rate was about four per 100,000, roughly double 2024; clinicians caution that such use can delay proven therapies and cause toxicity or interactions. The uptick is linked to misinformation circulating on social media and podcasts, with the rise more pronounced among men, white patients, and in the U.S. South.

via The New York Times|

#cancer #health #ivermectin