Contemporary Face Of Epidemics and Pandemics: Dealing With the Infodemic
This talk by Sylvie Briand asked questions about the spread of misinformation related to COVID-19. While other pandemics were accompanied by ‘infodemics’ (defined by the World Health Organization as a proliferation of information, some accurate, some not), the extent of the misinformation that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented. This talk focused on the causes and challenges of an infodemic. It further covered the management of infodemics using new technologies.
About the Public Health Expert
Sylvie Briand (MD, MPH, PhD) is the director of the Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness (GIH), at the World Health Organization (WHO/WHE), in Geneva. The Department of Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness (GIH) advances global efforts to prevent and control existing and emerging infectious diseases by increasing access to evidence-based interventions; fostering impactful innovation; and leveraging technical, operational and strategic partnerships. Since 2001, Briand has been actively involved in the detection, preparedness and response to global threats, leading the scientific and strategic component of the WHO response (COVID 19, avian and pandemic influenza, Ebola, Zika, Plague, yellow fever, cholera, MERS). Before joining WHO, Briand worked as public health project director for different global health agencies in various geographic regions (South America, Africa).
