ETIDIOH - NEW

 {Summary} Misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories gain traction in times of uncertainty when little is known about a disease and when trust in government and public institutions is low . Amidst uncertainty, public health-related memes act as a sort of coping mechanism. Memes images, text, or video that serve as a shorthand form of communication—have the potential to spread quickly and widely on social media. While memes can be humorous, perhaps harmless, they can have serious effects at other times, as during the COVID-19 pandemic. One thing they have in common, however, is their transportability from user to user and platform to platform.  Frame analysis of Internet memes is useful for categorizing what we call frames of meaning in digital space. Unlike the agenda-setting function of mass media, in which gatekeepers (e.g., news editors) set the agenda regarding public issues, framing theory in the digital age is more dynamic, as content may take on different ...

 {Excerpt} The outbreak of an undiagnosed disease in DR Congo, reported by WHO on Dec 8, 2024,1 is a pressing global health concern that demands swift and coordinated action. As of Dec 5, 406 cases and 31 deaths have been reported in the Panzi health zone in Kwango province, with influenza-like symptoms and anaemia. Most affected individuals are children aged younger than 5 years , many of whom are severely malnourished . The remoteness of the region and poor infrastructure complicate the identification of the pathogen, with suspicions that multiple diseases could be contributing to these cases . Furthermore, the outbreak has the potential to transcend regional boundaries, particularly as DR Congo shares porous borders with Angola , where provinces such as Uige are vulnerable to cross-border transmission. Mobility between these regions could facilitate the spread of the disease to neighbouring African countries, raising the potential for a Public Health Emergency of International C...