How the media falls short in reporting epidemics
- Written by Yotam Ophir, Postdoctoral Fellow in Science Communication at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania
Lethal infectious diseases are making headlines again, with 17 confirmed new Ebola cases reported in Congo as of August 8. The news brings back the memories of Americans’ unjustified fear during the 2014 outbreak.
In any outbreak or public health crisis, health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention need to...