An agent-based model about the effects of fake news on a norovirus outbreak

Brainard, J., Hunter, P. R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5608-6144 and Hall, I. R. (2020) An agent-based model about the effects of fake news on a norovirus outbreak. Revue d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, 68 (2). pp. 99-107. ISSN 0398-7620

[thumbnail of Submitted manucript]
Preview
PDF (Submitted manucript) - Draft Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (296kB) | Preview
[thumbnail of AAM_fake_news_noro]
Preview
PDF (AAM_fake_news_noro) - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (302kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background; Concern about health misinformation is longstanding, especially on the Internet. Methods; Using agent-based models, we considered the effects of such misinformation on a norovirus outbreak, and some methods for countering the possible impacts of “good” and “bad” health advice. The work explicitly models spread of physical disease and information (both online and offline) as two separate but interacting processes. The models have multiple stochastic elements; repeat model runs were made to identify parameter values that most consistently produced the desired target baseline scenario. Next, parameters were found that most consistently led to a scenario when outbreak severity was clearly made worse by circulating poor quality disease prevention advice. Strategies to counter “fake” health news were tested. Results; Reducing bad advice to 30% of total information or making at least 30% of people fully resistant to believing in and sharing bad health advice were effective thresholds to counteract the negative impacts of bad advice during a norovirus outbreak. Conclusion: How feasible it is to achieve these targets within communication networks (online and offline) should be explored.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: agent based models,outbreak,norovirus,fake news,filter bubbles
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 07 Dec 2019 02:09
Last Modified: 25 Sep 2024 13:41
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/73289
DOI: 10.1016/j.respe.2019.12.001

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item