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April 29, 2009

CDC backs social-media coverage of swine flu

Posted: 05:59 PM ET

There's been much talk in the past couple days about how useful social media is, or isn't, for disseminating information during an emergency.

A writer from CNET sums up the situation well:

The role that social media has played in the spread of information throughout the swine flu outbreak has been significant. Some would argue that social media has helped to fuel the fire, along with the constant coverage on the news. For better or for worse, social media is likely to be one of the primary mediums through which information spreads in a crisis moving forward.

On Tuesday afternoon, I posted an update to my story about the controversy over swine flu info on Twitter. I found it interesting that the top spokesman for the CDC told me he thinks social media's role in the swine flu outbreak has been positive, on the whole. From the story:

"I think it's generally a useful development, but I would encourage people to look to other sources, especially established, recognized medical authorities," said Glen Nowak, chief of media relations at the CDC. "It shows that people are engaged and they care and that it's caught their attention - and those all are good things."

Furthermore, Nowak said studies show that, in a crisis, people tend to get their information from multiple sources. They also rely most heavily on information from the medical community, he said.

The social media conversation continues today. Check out Facebook's maps and charts that show how much traffic this story is getting there. And, of course, CNN has interactives and a map to help you understand the story.

Or, you can always follow the CDC on Twitter.

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Filed under: Twitter • social-networking sites • technology


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lluvia   April 29th, 2009 7:17 pm ET

U.S. schools need to be thoroughly cleaned with a good disinfectant at least twice per week. I mean each desk and tables. This would avoid students from constantly getting sick or even worse spreading of menigitis. The maintainance people only vacum the rugs in the lower classes and only broom the classrooms around the furnishing. A thorough cleaning must take place in order for our children to be safe at school from contagious diseases.
lluvia   April 29th, 2009 7:23 pm ET

Oh! One more thing. Living near a border city exposes our children to the pandemic worse. While schools in that country are getting shut down, alot of students attending our schools either because they gave an aunts address or someone loaned them an address are attending our childrens schools and exposing them to the diseases coming from their country, as they cross the border daily.
scribd   April 29th, 2009 7:46 pm ET

In addition to Twitter and Facebook, there are tons of swine flu documents on Scribd, and users are adding more every hour.
CB_Brooklyn   April 29th, 2009 10:44 pm ET

The Swine Flu Propaganda Explained

By Steve Collier
28 April 2009

I've sussed it all... all this nonsense about Avian Flu/Bird flu – and now swine flu – over the past few years. It was to condition the population that something big was bound to break out sooner or later. Then, when they decided the time was right – like in Mexico City – they ramped up the media / government / experts to put us in a state of fear – saying that this was the start of a pandemic. But just like 1918, only a few died at first [these deaths are just normal occurrences]. However, they are still saying this could explode when winter comes. Therefore, governments will now suggest or enforce that the population are vaccinated – before winter comes – hence the large stockpiles of vaccines already in place. Then just like with AIDS and with the killer smallpox vaccine, you'll see people dieing more and more as winter approaches – not because of some swine virus but because of the lethal cocktail of poisons in the vaccine! This is a repeat of the 1918 Spanish flu vaccine massacre! ...
Social Media Zeitgeist - 5-1-9 | benphoster   April 30th, 2009 11:29 pm ET

[...] Bacon Pox (Swine Flu) and Social Media [CNN] – This was the week of swine flu, and Social Media has helped (and hurt) public preparation [...]
Marta   May 5th, 2009 9:40 pm ET

it's very terrible for us, hopefully we find prevention mediine
thanks
http://buyingsguide.blogspot.com
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