Unfounded beliefs are spreading misinformation about the Mpox outbreak.
It ain't Covid-19's new mate, Mpox, but conspiracy theorists are milking the topic to stir up their followers, disregarding the severity of the illness, its transmission method, or the suitable vaccination.
Lockdowns, mass inoculations, and night curfews, huh? Sounds familiar? This time around, it's not about Corona, but Mpox. The murmur has been growing stronger in certain corners of social media circles. Using familiar themes from the Covid-19 conspiracy, a new wave of misinformation is gaining traction on platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok, Telegram, and more.
Even though coronaviruses have become somewhat of a background noise in everyday German life, and misinformation about Covid-19 is mostly limited to niche online communities, false claims about Mpox are starting to gain popularity on platforms like mentioned above.
Miro Dittrich from the Center for Monitoring, Analysis, and Strategy (Cemas) researches radicalization tendencies and conspiracy narratives online. According to him, throughout mid-August, the keywords "monkeypox" or "Mpox" were the most commonly mentioned words in about 5,000 Telegram channels and groups that were examined.
WHO's influence magnified
In mid-August, the World Health Organization (WHO) publicly declared that the increasing proliferation of a specific Mpox virus variant (Clade Ib) in Africa constituted a "public health emergency of international concern." The WHO wanted to increase global awareness among authorities.
Rumors began to spread online that the WHO had ordered governments to gear up for another wave of stringent lockdowns. This is simply not true. In any case, the international organization does not have the power to issue such orders; moreover, they lack the ability to do so. "Only the sovereign nations have the power to decide and implement health policies for their populations," explains WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic.
The narrative of an overpowered WHO persisted during the Corona period as well and was just as unfounded then. "Any potential infringement upon fundamental rights would be a result of the nations' own decisions and measures," German Bundestag experts confirmed in 2023.
Corona, Mpox, and misinformation
It turns out that misinformation from the pandemic was easily transferred to Mpox. "While conspiracy theorists have been able to reach a larger audience due to the Corona topic, the interest is significantly less now," explains Cemas expert Dittrich. With no more governmental measures to rally against, there's not much left to stir the pot.
"If a new disease arises and there's a vaccine available, conspiracy theorists will quickly shift gears and keep the same narrative," explains Dittrich. "It doesn't matter how dangerous Mpox is, how it transmits, or what type of vaccine works best."
It's important to note that while coronaviruses and the Mpox virus are two different entities, their transmission patterns vary significantly. Sars-Cov-2 is mainly transmitted via tiny droplets in the air, i.e., respiratory tract. In contrast, skin-to-skin contact is the primary means of Mpox transmission, such as during intimate touch or close hugging, massaging, or kissing. Particular precautions are needed when someone has rashes, wounds, or scabs, as this increases the risk of infection.
As of August 31st, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), no confirmed cases of the I clade have been recorded in Germany. The IIb clade, on the other hand, has been reported in approximately 3,800 cases nationwide, with the majority occurring from early summer to autumn 2022.
In a statement during mid-August, Hans Kluge, WHO Director for Europe, made it clear that "Mpox is not the new Covid." Kluge also asserted that lockdowns and mask-wearing are not necessary, and vaccines have been available to fight Mpox for some time. Despite this, misinformation continues to spread on social media.
According to Dittrich, the reluctance toward vaccinations that occurred during the pandemic remains resilient in certain circles. "Most of those who rejected vaccinations during the pandemic didn't care about the specific effects of vaccines," he explains. "A large majority of these skeptics believe that viruses don't exist, or that they aren't harmful, or that the government is using vaccines and measures to control people."
Mpox is not confined to a specific group
Some deny the existence of the disease, while others downplay its severity. Others stigmatize infected individuals as immoral sinners. A common myth is that Mpox is only transmitted sexually between men from the gay and bisexual community.
In Germany, the IIb clade primarily affected men who have sex with men. However, gender is not a determining factor for infection. Anyone can contract the virus through heterosexual sex or close contact with others. In Africa, the virus has caused miscarriages in women and has had a particularly devastating impact on children.
"In the far-right community, homosexuality is equated with perversion and vice," explains Dittrich. Threats like, "Look, here, they bring you the diseases," are commonly heard below the surface.
Unchecked claims on social media platforms often come with a larger potential for spreading falsehoods. The functionality of these platforms contributes to this issue, continually modifying to match the online presence of users. As a result, users are served content similar to what they've previously engaged with, leading to the creation of closed groups or personalized feeds. These environments amplify the perception that a particular viewpoint is valid, while opposing viewpoints remain unnoticed.
Despite the WHO's clarification that lockdowns and mask-wearing are not necessary for Mpox and vaccines have been available to combat it, misinformation persists, fueled by reluctance towards vaccinations from certain circles. Conspiracy theorists, using familiar themes from the Covid-19 conspiracy, are spreading false claims about a new wave of stringent lockdowns, disregarding the disease's transmission method and suitable vaccination.
