Beware of fake news on coronavirus spreading on social media – Scientist warns

Professor William Kwabena Ampofo, a Senior Researcher at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, is worried about the level of fake news on coronavirus being churned out on social media platforms.

Dr. Norman made the observations during a public forum put together by Media General’s Thought Leadership Series and Vodafone Ghana under theme: “Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) and their Effects on Public Health Management in Ghana” on Tuesday.

“There are a lot of misrepresentation on social media, you find stories about chickens been infected with coronavirus. You find stories about Africans being genetically immuned to the coronavirus. Please one person is not a study.

“One Cameroonian’s research is not a study,” he stressed.

Regrettably, he said, most Ghanaians are susceptible to this false information.

“The public tend to believe what they read on social media rather than the press conference that the Head of Disease Surveillance says.”

He therefore asked the public to be careful on the source of information consumed on coronavirus.

Meanwhile, he said over 20 cases reported to the institute tested negative.