Effectively Communicating the Uncertainties Surrounding Ebola Virus Transmission

PLoS Pathogens

Andy Kilianski¹  Nicholas G. Evans² 

[1] BioDefense Branch, BioSciences Division, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, United States of America;Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

关键词: Ebola virus;    Aerosols;    Public;    occupational health;    Scientists;    Epidemiology;    Public policy;    Ebola hemorrhagic fever;    Science policy;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1005097

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

The current Ebola virus outbreak has highlighted the uncertainties surrounding many aspects of Ebola virus virology, including routes of transmission. The scientific community played a leading role during the outbreak—potentially, the largest of its kind—as many of the questions surrounding ebolaviruses have only been interrogated in the laboratory. Scientists provided an invaluable resource for clinicians, public health officials, policy makers, and the lay public in understanding the progress of Ebola virus disease and the continuing outbreak. Not all of the scientific communication, however, was accurate or effective. There were multiple instances of published articles during the height of the outbreak containing potentially misleading scientific language that spurred media overreaction and potentially jeopardized preparedness and policy decisions at critical points. Here, we use articles declaring the potential for airborne transmission of Ebola virus as a case study in the inaccurate reporting of basic science, and we provide recommendations for improving the communication about unknown aspects of disease during public health crises.

【 授权许可】

CC BY