Tabitha Lee Sang

Mr. Munoz
English DC, Period 5
5 November 2015
September of 2005, a global epidemic infected all corners of the world within a week.
This epidemic infected villages, towns, and cities and in the process killed hundreds of
thousands. No one, not even the animals, were immune to the disease called corrupted blood.
Many people tried to help heal the sick, while other attempted to increase the infection. The
plague was finally eradicated when administers of the virtual game World of Warcraft casted a
spell on the whole population.
Ran D. Balicer in his Modeling Infectious Disease Dissemination Through Online RolePlaying Games commented that this virtual plague holds surprising similarities to real-world
epidemics. Epidemiologists Nina Fefferman and Eric Longren realized that the data from this
virtual plague could have real world application. One of the observations they took into account
was the effect of developers alerts concerning infected areas. They found that some listened to
these alerts and stayed away from infected areas, but surprisingly they also discovered a number
of people who deliberately traveled to these areas out of curiosity. Some people also purposely
traveled to these areas to help cure people infected with this disease, while others were intent on
increasing the spread of infection, which could be the first virtual act of bio-warfare. The
medias role in increasing the spread of this virtual plague is inaccurate because the characters of
World of Warcraft can regenerate (Clark, Josh). Media has the ability to help contain
pandemics and educate the public or to inspire fear and persecution in the public.

In the event of a pandemic the media is responsible for accurately reporting areas infected
by the disease and educating the public about the disease. According to Anna Mummert at
Marshall University and Howard Weiss at Georgia Tech New the new models that predict the
spread of diseases in society show that the media has a powerful influence on the behavior of the
public ("How Media Reports Influence Pandemics | MIT Technology Review"). They observed
that during the 2003 SARS outbreak there was a decrease in the number of travelers going to
reported infected areas. A false rumor of SARS in New York Citys China Town showed a
repetition of this result. They theorize that media reports cause people to self-isolate: to not
travel, to wear face mask and reduce their exposure to crowds and, thereby, decrease the spread
of infection. They also assume that an increase in media reports will increase the number of
people who self-isolate.
The panic that influenced the public to self-isolate also influenced the research report
Academics and competing interest in H1N1 influenza media reporting (Mandeville et al.,
Academics And Competing Interests In H1N1 Influenza Media Reporting). This report studied
how academics use the panic of infection to increase demand for pharmaceutical products
(Mandeville et al., Academics And Competing Interests In H1N1 Influenza Media Reporting).
This report studied UK newspaper articles to assess competing interest, or CoI, among
academics during the H1N1 pandemic (Mandeville et al., Academics And Competing Interests
In H1N1 Influenza Media Reporting). The results of this article found that academics aired on
media gave a higher risk of infection than the official report (Mandeville et al., Academics And
Competing Interests In H1N1 Influenza Media Reporting). This article also found one in two
academics aired on media that commented on vaccines had CoI, and CoI was 8.4 times
greater for academics promoting vaccines (Mandeville et al., Academics And Competing

Interests In H1N1 Influenza Media Reporting). The article concluded that the heightened risk
assessment, combined with advocacy for pharmaceutical products to count this risk, created
increased panic within the public (Mandeville et al., Academics And Competing Interests In
H1N1 Influenza Media Reporting).
Media networks recognize that anxiety from pandemic coverage and competing interests
in society and politics create doubt within the public about the accuracy of media coverage
(Blaming Media Hype for Swine Flu Fears). The New York Times article Blaming Media
Hype for Swine Flu Fears discussed the publics lack of trust in media coverage (Blaming
Media Hype for Swine Flu Fears). This article quoted Dr. Goldacre, who defended the
accuracy of media coverage, stating that predicting disease outbreaks is a tricky business
(Blaming Media Hype for Swine Flu Fears). The article concludes with a discussion of the
publics growing mistrust of the media (Blaming Media Hype for Swine Flu Fears).
News medias can be used as a tool to contain diseases or increasing panic in the public.
The research report Academics and competing interest in H1N1 influenza media reporting
found that competing interests, or CoI, among academics aired on media during the H1N1
pandemic gave a higher risk of infection than the official report and advocated pharmaceutical
product. This report concluded that there commentary increased anxiety and demand for
pharmaceutical drugs. Mike Adams on NatrualNews reported that the media is trying to advocate
that people with dark skin like Thomas Duncan should never be kept in medical isolation
because that would be racist. The media when not influenced by public opinion can be useful
for containing a disease.
Media also assists with prevention of pandemic diseases nationally and globally. One of
WHOs core functions is the strengthen biosafety, biosecurity and readiness for outbreaks of

dangerous and emerging pathogens outbreaks (C). WHOs Twelfth general Programme of
Work aims to exercise this function by the reduction of mortality, morbidity and societal
disruption resulting from epidemicsthrough prevention, preparedness, response and recovery
activities (C). The PED, or the Department of Pandemic and Epidemic Disease, includes actions
and networks, such Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Global Infection Prevention and Control
Network (GIPCN) and Meningitis Environmental Risk Information Technolgies (MERIT) that
battles epidemic diseases like cholera, hendra virus infection, meningitis and plague (C). These
programs reach out for public aid by informing them about these programs through videos, radio,
and websites.
Media coverage of health issues and issues and how to work more effectively with
journalists, a qualitative study researches the medias influence on health-related behaviors
with a focus on Australia journalists and avian influenza. This study involved interviews with
Sixteen journalist, editors, reporters, and producers between October 2006 and August 2007 (C).
These interviews showed that journalists carefully offset competing, aims amidst significant
operational constraints and sourced respected and independent doctors as trustworthy on
particular health issues (C). The results of this study found that specialist health and medical
reporters are better suited for reporting on health issues because of more sound technical
knowledge, channels to appropriate sources, power within their organizations, and ability to
advocate for better quality coverage. The article concludes that media and health officials
should build a better relationship.
Anxiety from pandemic coverage and competing interests in society and politics are
creating doubt within the public about the accuracy of media coverage. The New York Times
article Blaming Media Hype for Swine Flu Fears discusses the publics lack of trust in media

coverage. This article quotes Dr. Goldacre, who defends the accuracy of media coverage, stating
that predicting disease outbreaks is a tricky business (I). The article ends with the compare
and contrast of Hurricane Katrina, how people stayed even though the forecast showed a
hurricane was coming, and reports on disease outbreaks (I).