Summary: The purpose of this paper is to streamline common anti-infection rumours and to clarify them through scientific evidence in order to raise public awareness of the accuracy of anti-infection knowledge and to reduce health risks and malpractices resulting from misinformation.
Introduction
In today’s society, where information is spreading rapidly, rumours of anti-infection are emerging. These rumours tend to spread through channels such as the Internet, causing unnecessary public panic or wrongful responses, with negative impacts on public health. Therefore, timely screening and rumours are essential.
II. Common anti-infection rumours
(i) Rumour I: “Jimmy prevents new coronary virus infections” while garlic has some anti-bacterial inflammation elements, there is no scientific evidence that it is effective in preventing new coronary viruses. The virus has unique structures and infection mechanisms that are not simply resistant to the consumption of garlic. During the new coronary epidemic, this rumour led to over-eating of garlic, causing problems such as gastrointestinal discomfort, and did not have a real preventive effect.
(ii) Rumour II: “Antibiotics treat influenza” is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. Antibiotics are mainly directed at bacterial infections and have no effect on the virus. Misuse of antibiotics to treat influenza not only makes it impossible to mitigate the symptoms of influenza, such as heat, cough and inefficiency, but also to disrupt the balance of human intestinal strains, weaken the body ‘ s immunity, increase the risk of bacterial resistance and make it more difficult to treat subsequent real bacterial infections.
(iii) Rumour III: “Influenza vaccinations can lead to influenza” The influenza vaccine is prepared by an inactivated or detoxicated influenza virus. Some minor local or whole-body effects may occur after vaccination, such as inoculation pain, low heat, etc., but this is not a flu infection. Numerous clinical studies and practices have confirmed that inoculation against influenza is one of the most effective means of preventing influenza, which can significantly reduce the probability of contracting influenza viruses and the severity of post-infection symptoms.
(iv) Rumour IV: “The fumigation of a room with vinegar prevents all respiratory infections” The main ingredient of vinegar is acetic acid, which, although it has some fungi effects, is difficult to achieve effective fungi concentrations in fumigating rooms and is largely ineffective for viruses. The wide variety of pathogens with respiratory infections, including viruses, bacteria and secondary bodies, cannot be fully prevented by mere fumigation. Overdependence on this method can lead to neglecting other scientifically effective preventive measures, such as ventilating and maintaining good hygiene.
III. Causes of rumours and their dissemination
(i) Inadequate public scientific literacy. Most people lack expertise in medical microbiology, immunology, etc., to determine accurately the scientific nature of information and are susceptible to seemingly reasonable rumours.
(ii) The emergence of web-based social platforms has resulted in the rapid dissemination of information, but the corresponding mechanisms for the review and monitoring of information have been lagging behind and rumours have been widely disseminated in a short period of time, with greater impact.
(iii) Psychological factors affect public anxiety and fear in the face of health threats, such as infectious diseases, and tend to believe in simple “preventive methods” or “therapeutic approaches” rather than to explore their authenticity in depth.
Strategies to counter rumours
(i) Strengthening science education for all through a wide range of media channels, such as television, web-based health and community health platforms, and so forth, to disseminate infection-resistant scientific knowledge and improve public scientific literacy and ability to identify rumours.
(ii) Improving mechanisms for the regulation of information. Internet platforms should strengthen the scrutiny of health-related information and establish rapid media coverage mechanisms to detect and stop rumours in a timely manner. The relevant government departments should also increase the penalties imposed on those who produce and disseminate rumours and regulate the environment in which information is disseminated.
(iii) Strengthening the voice of health-care institutions and professionals. Medical institutions and medical professionals should proactively and through various means disseminate correct anti-infection knowledge, respond in a timely manner to hotspots of public concern and suppress rumours with authoritative voices.
Conclusions
The spread of anti-infection rumours has seriously disrupted public health awareness and behaviour decisions. The spread of anti-infection rumours can only be effectively curbed by a concerted effort to raise public scientific literacy, improve information regulation and enhance professional voice, ensure public awareness and behaviour in the area of anti-infection compliance with scientific norms and maintain good public health order and public health.
