scholarly journals How public reaction to disease information across scales and the impacts of vector control methods influence disease prevalence and control efficacy

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. e1008762
Author(s):  
Jing Jiao ◽  
Gonzalo P. Suarez ◽  
Nina H. Fefferman
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Control Efficacy ◽  
Focal Concerns ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
Mosquito Breeding ◽  
Local Risk ◽  
Public Reaction

With the development of social media, the information about vector-borne disease incidence over broad spatial scales can cause demand for local vector control before local risk exists. Anticipatory intervention may still benefit local disease control efforts; however, infection risks are not the only focal concerns governing public demand for vector control. Concern for environmental contamination from pesticides and economic limitations on the frequency and magnitude of control measures also play key roles. Further, public concern may be focused more on ecological factors (i.e., controlling mosquito populations) or on epidemiological factors (i.e., controlling infection-carrying mosquitoes), which may lead to very different control outcomes. Here we introduced a generic Ross-MacDonald model, incorporating these factors under three spatial scales of disease information: local, regional, and global. We tailored and parameterized the model for Zika virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito. We found that sensitive reactivity caused by larger-scale incidence information could decrease average human infections per patch breeding capacity, however, the associated increase in total control effort plays a larger role, which leads to an overall decrease in control efficacy. The shift of focal concerns from epidemiological to ecological risk could relax the negative effect of the sensitive reactivity on control efficacy when mosquito breeding capacity populations are expected to be large. This work demonstrates that, depending on expected total mosquito breeding capacity population size, and weights of different focal concerns, large-scale disease information can reduce disease infections without lowering control efficacy. Our findings provide guidance for vector-control strategies by considering public reaction through social media.

scholarly journals How public reaction to disease information across scales and the impacts of vector control methods influence disease prevalence and control efficacy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Jiao ◽  
Gonzalo P. Suarez ◽  
Nina H. Fefferman
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Control Efficacy ◽  
Focal Concerns ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
Mosquito Breeding ◽  
Local Risk ◽  
Public Reaction

AbstractWith the development of social media, the information about vector-borne disease incidence over broad spatial scales can cause demand for local vector control before local risk exists. Anticipatory intervention may still benefit local disease control efforts; however, infection risks are not the only focal concerns governing public demand for vector control. Concern for environmental contamination from pesticides and economic limitations on the frequency and magnitude of control measures also play key roles. Further, public concern may be focused more on ecological factors (i.e., controlling mosquito populations) or on epidemiological factors (i.e., controlling infection-carrying mosquitoes), which may lead to very different control outcomes. Here we introduced a generic Ross-MacDonald model, incorporating these factors under three spatial scales of disease information: local, regional, and global. We tailored and parameterized the model for Zika virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito. We found that overreaction caused by larger-scale incidence information could decrease average human infections per patch breeding capacity, however, the associated increase in total control effort plays a larger role, which leads to an overall decrease in control efficacy. The shift of focal concerns from epidemiological to ecological risk could relax the negative effect of overreaction on control efficacy when mosquito breeding capacity populations are expected to be large. This work demonstrates that, depending on expected total mosquito breeding capacity population size, and weights of different focal concerns, large-scale disease information can reduce disease infections without lowering control efficacy. Our findings provide guidance for vector-control strategies by considering public reaction through social media.

Public perception of COVID-19 vaccines from the digital footprints left on Twitter: analyzing positive, neutral and negative sentiments of Twitterati

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aasif Ahmad Mir ◽  
Sevukan Rathinam ◽  
Sumeer Gul
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
English Language ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Application Programming Interface ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Reaction ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
The Impact

PurposeTwitter is gaining popularity as a microblogging and social networking service to discuss various social issues. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic and is discussed worldwide. Social media is an instant platform to deliberate various dimensions of COVID-19. The purpose of the study is to explore and analyze the public sentiments related to COVID-19 vaccines across the Twitter messages (positive, neutral, and negative) and the impact tweets make across digital social circles.Design/methodology/approachTo fetch the vaccine-related posts, a manual examination of randomly selected 500 tweets was carried out to identify the popular hashtags relevant to the vaccine conversation. It was found that the hashtags “covid19vaccine” and “coronavirusvaccine” were the two popular hashtags used to discuss the communications related to COVID-19 vaccines. 23,575 global tweets available in public domain were retrieved through “Twitter Application Programming Interface” (API), using “Orange Software”, an open-source machine learning, data visualization and data mining toolkit. The study was confined to the tweets posted in English language only. The default data cleaning and preprocessing techniques available in the “Orange Software” were applied to the dataset, which include “transformation”, “tokenization” and “filtering”. The “Valence Aware Dictionary for sEntiment Reasoning” (VADER) tool was used for classification of tweets to determine the tweet sentiments (positive, neutral and negative) as well as the degree of sentiments (compound score also known as sentiment score). To assess the influence/impact of tweets account wise (verified and unverified) and sentiment wise (positive, neutral, and negative), the retweets and likes, which offer a sort of reward or acknowledgment of tweets, were used.FindingsA gradual decline in the number of tweets over the time is observed. Majority (11,205; 47.52%) of tweets express positive sentiments, followed by neutral (7,948; 33.71%) and negative sentiments (4,422; 18.75%), respectively. The study also signifies a substantial difference between the impact of tweets tweeted by verified and unverified users. The tweets related to verified users have a higher impact both in terms of retweets (65.91%) and likes (84.62%) compared to the tweets tweeted by unverified users. Tweets expressing positive sentiments have the highest impact both in terms of likes (mean = 10.48) and retweets (mean = 3.07) compared to those that express neutral or negative sentiments.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of the study is that the sentiments of the people expressed over one single social platform, that is, Twitter have been studied which cannot generalize the global public perceptions. There can be a variation in the results when the datasets from other social media platforms will be studied.Practical implicationsThe study will help to know the people's sentiments and beliefs toward the COVID-19 vaccines. Sentiments that people hold about the COVID-19 vaccines are studied, which will help health policymakers understand the polarity (positive, negative, and neutral) of the tweets and thus see the public reaction and reflect the types of information people are exposed to about vaccines. The study can aid the health sectors to intensify positive messages and eliminate negative messages for an enhanced vaccination uptake. The research can also help design more operative vaccine-advocating communication by customizing messages using the obtained knowledge from the sentiments and opinions about the vaccines.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on an essential aspect of COVID-19 vaccines and how people express themselves (positively, neutrally and negatively) on Twitter.

Should I post this on Instagram?: Contrasting Social Media Use between Young adults with IBD and Type 1 Diabetes (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susruthi Rajanala ◽  
Jennifer Wilson ◽  
Paul Mitchell ◽  
Katharine Garvey ◽  
Laurie Fishman
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
Media Habits

BACKGROUND There is increasing focus on social media usage among young adult patients. OBJECTIVE This study aims to understand and compare the social media habits of youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of subjects from Boston Children’s Hospital outpatient IBD and diabetes clinics. Patients over the age of 18 were invited to complete a brief anonymous survey, which asked about the various ways they use several social media platforms. RESULTS A total of 108 patients were included evenly split across disease type. Eighty-three percent of participants spent at least 30 minutes per day on social media, most commonly on Instagram and Facebook. While the content varied based on the platform, patients with IBD posted or shared content related to their disease significantly less than those with T1D (38% vs 23%, P=0.02) Among Instagram users, IBD patients were less likely to engage with support groups (22% vs 56%, P=0.04). Among Twitter users, IBD patients were less likely to seek disease information (77% vs 29%, P=0.005) Among Facebook users, IBD patients were less likely to post about research and clinical trials (31% vs 65%, P=0.04) or for information seeking (49% vs 87%, P=0.003), IBD patients were also less likely to share their diagnosis with friends or family in person. CONCLUSIONS Young adults with IBD were less willing to share diagnosis, post or explore disease on social media. This could lead to a sense of isolation and should be further explored.

scholarly journals “These Women are Making a Statement Against Rape and yet the only Thing Y'All can Focus on is ‘Eww They're Naked’”: Exploring Rape Culture on Facebook in South Africa

Gender Issues ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaida Orth ◽  
Michelle Andipatin ◽  
Brian van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Victim Blaming ◽  
Rape Culture ◽  
The Public ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Aggressive Male ◽  
Public Reaction

Abstract Sexual assault on campuses has been identified as a pervasive public health problem. In April 2016, students across South African universities launched the #Endrapeculture campaign to express their frustration against university policies which served to perpetuate a rape culture. The use of hashtag activism during the protest served to spark online public debates and mobilize support for the protests. This article describes the public reactions to the South African #Endrapeculture protests on the Facebook social media platform. Data was collected through natural observations of comment threads on news articles and public posts on the student protests, and subjected to content analysis. The findings suggest that the #nakedprotest was successful in initiating public conversations concerning the issue of rape culture. However, the reactions towards the #nakedprotest were divided with some perpetuating a mainstream public discourse which perpetuates rape culture, and others (re)presenting a counter-public that challenged current dominant views about rape culture. Two related main themes emerged: Victim-blaming and Trivialising Rape Culture. Victim-blaming narratives emerged from the commenters and suggested that the protesters were increasing their chances of being sexually assaulted by marching topless. This discourse seems to perpetuate the notion of the aggressive male sexual desire and places the onus on women to protect themselves. Other commenters criticised the #nakedprotest method through demeaning comments which served to derail the conversation and trivialise the message behind the protest. The public reaction to the #nakedprotest demonstrated that rape culture is pervasive in society and continues to be re(produced) through discourse on social media platforms. However, social media also offers individuals the opportunity to draw from and participate in multiple counter-publics which challenge these mainstream rape culture discourses.

scholarly journals The Spatial-Comprehensiveness (S-COM) Index: Identifying Optimal Spatial Extents in Volunteered Geographic Information Point Datasets

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Haydn Lawrence ◽  
Colin Robertson ◽  
Rob Feick ◽  
Trisalyn Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Volunteered Geographic Information ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Quality Metric ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Feasible Study

Social media and other forms of volunteered geographic information (VGI) are used frequently as a source of fine-grained big data for research. While employing geographically referenced social media data for a wide array of purposes has become commonplace, the relevant scales over which these data apply to is typically unknown. For researchers to use VGI appropriately (e.g., aggregated to areal units (e.g., neighbourhoods) to elicit key trend or demographic information), general methods for assessing the quality are required, particularly, the explicit linkage of data quality and relevant spatial scales, as there are no accepted standards or sampling controls. We present a data quality metric, the Spatial-comprehensiveness Index (S-COM), which can delineate feasible study areas or spatial extents based on the quality of uneven and dynamic geographically referenced VGI. This scale-sensitive approach to analyzing VGI is demonstrated over different grains with data from two citizen science initiatives. The S-COM index can be used both to assess feasible study extents based on coverage, user-heterogeneity, and density and to find feasible sub-study areas from a larger, indefinite area. The results identified sub-study areas of VGI for focused analysis, allowing for a larger adoption of a similar methodology in multi-scale analyses of VGI.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Area-Wide Inoculum Reduction and Vector Control on Temporal Progress of Huanglongbing in Young Sweet Orange Plantings

Plant Disease ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 789-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato B. Bassanezi ◽  
Luiz H. Montesino ◽  
Nelson Gimenes-Fernandes ◽  
Pedro T. Yamamoto ◽  
Tim R. Gottwald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vector Control ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Sweet Orange ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Candidatus Liberibacter ◽  
Local Vector ◽  
Temporal Progress

Huanglongbing (HLB), caused by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ spp. and transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (ACP), is an important threat to citrus industries worldwide, causing significant yield loss. The current recommended strategies to manage HLB are to eliminate HLB-symptomatic trees to reduce sources of bacterial inoculum and to apply insecticides to reduce psyllid vector populations. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and the importance of both strategies applied within young citrus plots (local management), in different frequencies and combinations, on HLB temporal progress. Two factorial field experiments, E1 and E2, were initiated in a new plantation of sweet orange in an HLB epidemic region of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in October 2005 and May 2006, respectively. Local inoculum reduction (tree removal) intervals for E1 were every 4, 8, and 16 weeks and, for E2, every 2, 4, 12, and 26 weeks. Local vector control strategies for E1 were no control, program A (PA), and program B (PB); and, for E2, no control and program C (PC), as follows. Psyllids were controlled with two 56-day-interval soil or drench applications of systemic insecticides concurrently with the rainy season each year and, during the rest of the year, with insecticide sprays every 28 days for PA and every 14 days for PB and PC. Regional HLB management was present for E1 and absent for E2. The beginning of the HLB epidemic was delayed for 10 months in E1 compared with appearance of the first diseased tree in E2 but wasn't affected by different local strategies in either experiment. After 60 (E1) and 53 (E2) months, the HLB incidence and progress rates were not affected by different frequencies of local inoculum reduction in either experiment, and were different only in plots with and without local vector control in E2. In E1, the disease incidence was reduced by 90% and the disease progress rate by 50% in plots both with and without vector control. These reductions were explained by smaller psyllid populations and lower frequency of bacterialiferous psyllids in E1 compared with E2. Annual productivity increased over time in E1, as expected for young plantings, but remained stable or decreased in E2. These results confirm that immigration of bacterialiferous ACP vectors plays a critical role in HLB epidemics and suggest that area-wide inoculum reduction and ACP management strongly affect HLB control.

scholarly journals Data Mining and Content Analysis of the Chinese Social Media Platform Weibo During the Early COVID-19 Outbreak: Retrospective Observational Infoveillance Study

10.2196/18700 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e18700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiawei Li ◽  
Qing Xu ◽  
Raphael Cuomo ◽  
Vidya Purushothaman ◽  
Tim Mackey
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Hubei Province ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
Social Media Data ◽  
Public Reaction ◽  
Media Data ◽  
Chinese Social Media

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China in December 2019, is rapidly spreading worldwide with over 1.9 million cases as of mid-April 2020. Infoveillance approaches using social media can help characterize disease distribution and public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors critical to the early stages of an outbreak. Objective The aim of this study is to conduct a quantitative and qualitative assessment of Chinese social media posts originating in Wuhan City on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods Chinese-language messages from Wuhan were collected for 39 days between December 23, 2019, and January 30, 2020, on Weibo. For quantitative analysis, the total daily cases of COVID-19 in Wuhan were obtained from the Chinese National Health Commission, and a linear regression model was used to determine if Weibo COVID-19 posts were predictive of the number of cases reported. Qualitative content analysis and an inductive manual coding approach were used to identify parent classifications of news and user-generated COVID-19 topics. Results A total of 115,299 Weibo posts were collected during the study time frame consisting of an average of 2956 posts per day (minimum 0, maximum 13,587). Quantitative analysis found a positive correlation between the number of Weibo posts and the number of reported cases from Wuhan, with approximately 10 more COVID-19 cases per 40 social media posts (P<.001). This effect size was also larger than what was observed for the rest of China excluding Hubei Province (where Wuhan is the capital city) and held when comparing the number of Weibo posts to the incidence proportion of cases in Hubei Province. Qualitative analysis of 11,893 posts during the first 21 days of the study period with COVID-19-related posts uncovered four parent classifications including Weibo discussions about the causative agent of the disease, changing epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak, public reaction to outbreak control and response measures, and other topics. Generally, these themes also exhibited public uncertainty and changing knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19, including posts exhibiting both protective and higher-risk behaviors. Conclusions The results of this study provide initial insight into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of Chinese social media data at the initial epicenter in Wuhan City. Future studies should continue to explore the utility of social media data to predict COVID-19 disease severity, measure public reaction and behavior, and evaluate effectiveness of outbreak communication.

scholarly journals Description and lessons learned from the 2014 Dengue outbreak in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Knowledge, attitudes and bite prevention practices among those with confirmed Dengue

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Msellemu ◽  
Tegemeo Gavana ◽  
Hassan Ngonyani ◽  
Yeromin P. Mlacha ◽  
Prosper Chaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vector Control ◽  
Dengue Fever ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Dar Es Salaam ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Bed Nets ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Dengue Outbreaks ◽  
Mosquito Breeding

AbstractBackgroundThe frequency and magnitude of Dengue epidemics have increased dramatically in the past 40 years throughout the tropics largely due to unplanned urbanization, globalization and lack of effective mosquito control. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania has recently experienced Dengue outbreaks that occur with increasing frequency. Currently, only one serotype is recorded. Without adequate vector monitoring and control, it is certain that further outbreaks will occur.Methods/FindingsA retrospective study followed 100 individuals with confirmed Dengue fever in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam during the 2014 outbreak. Houses were inspected for mosquito breeding sites and gathered information on Socio-economic Status (SES) and Dengue prevention knowledge.Higher SES tertile had the most Dengue cases: 53 (55%) followed by medium and lower SES with 33 (34%) and 11 (11%) respectively. The highest number of mosquito breeding sites was also found in higher SES households. Kinondoni wards of Manzese, Mwananyamala, Tandale and Mabibo had the highest number of confirmed cases: 18, 13, 13 and 9 respectively. Each ward has large marketplaces, which may have aided dissemination of transmission to other areas.The population remains poorly informed about Dengue transmission: 22% of respondents said Dengue is spread from person to another, 30% did not think mosquitoes spread Dengue and 60% heard about Dengue while in hospital. Knowledge of bite prevention was poor; Dengue mosquito bites outside of sleeping hours but 84% of Dengue patients said that using bednets would prevent vector bites.ConclusionAffluent households are likely to be reservoirs of Dengue vectors having more breeding sites and Dengue cases. Mobile phones whose ownership is high across all social classes seem to be a better tool to communicate information about Dengue. The study established a habitat suitability score, a tool to be used for learning and estimate breeding habitat capacity to be used for vector control before rains begin.Author’s SummaryDengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes causing a flu-like illness that may develop into severe complications such as Dengue haemorrhagic fever and Dengue shock syndrome if the patient contracts two viral serotypes concurrently. There is currently no antiviral treatment or vaccines available against Dengue. Environmental vector control and mosquito bite prevention remain essential to prevent transmission. Due to globalisation and rapid urban expansion, Dar es Salaam is experiencing regular Dengue outbreaks. Without adequate vector control and public awareness, it is certain that these will continue to re-occur.The study presents factors associated with the outbreak in 2014. Rich households have more places for mosquitoes to breed with 54% found in these households and the majority of Dengue cases 55% came from higher SES groups that represented a greater proportion of cases than lower and middle socioeconomic groups, combined. The public was ill-informed about Dengue fever: 84% think bed nets can prevent Dengue, and 60% of the patients only became aware of Dengue while in the hospital with the illness. The study established a habitat suitability score, a tool to be used to estimate breeding habitat capacity before rains begin. Scattered containers especially tyres remain ideal breeding sites. The study highlights the need for waste management to avert future outbreaks.

Applying sentiment analytics to examine social media crises: a case study of United Airline's crisis in 2017

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Tian ◽  
Wu He ◽  
Feng-Kwei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Sentiment Analysis ◽  
Social Media Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Public Reaction ◽  
Media Data

PurposeIn recent years, social media crises occurred more and more often, which negatively affect the reputations of individuals, businesses and communities. During each crisis, numerous users either participated in online discussion or widely spread crisis-related information to their friends and followers on social media. By applying sentiment analysis to study a social media crisis of airline carriers, the purpose of this research is to help companies take measure against social media crises.Design/methodology/approachThis study used sentiment analytics to examine a social media crisis related to airline carriers. The arousal, valence, negative, positive and eight emotional sentiments were applied to analyze social media data collected from Twitter.FindingsThis research study found that social media sentiment analysis is useful to monitor public reaction after a social media crisis arises. The sentiment results are able to reflect the development of social media crises quite well. Proper and timely response strategies to a crisis can mitigate the crisis through effective communication with the customers and the public.Originality/valueThis study used the Affective Norms of English Words (ANEW) dictionary to classify the words in social media data and assigned the words with two elements to measure the emotions: valence and arousal. The intensity of the sentiment determines the public reaction to a social media crisis. An opinion-oriented information system is proposed as a solution for resolving a social media crisis in the paper.

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