Alerts
The alerts on these pages are based on the monitoring of publicly available data. While some alerts reference false claims, others are included to indicate gaps in knowledge, concerns, speculation, and other trending narratives. Inclusion in reporting is based on reach and velocity of spread and on whether conversations may impact health behaviors and decisions.
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Debate emerges over executive order targeting the childhood vaccine schedule
Medium Impact
Online discussions about childhood vaccines increased after President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to review the U.S.…
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Online posts share stories of potential mental health effects of weight loss drugs
Medium Impact
Two Washington Post articles sparked an online debate about the potential mental health effects of GLP-1 weight loss medications. A…
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Concern grows over expanding tick populations, alpha-gal, and a Lyme disease vaccine
Medium Impact
Online conversations about tick-borne illnesses surged after the Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to address expanding tick…
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Lawmaker promotes false COVID-19 vaccine safety claims, contradicting FDA data
Low Impact
A U.S. senator’s May 11 letter revealed that a December FDA analysis found no children’s deaths were definitively linked to…
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EPA rollback of drinking water restrictions on forever chemicals draws criticism
High Impact
On May 18, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to “rescind and restart” restrictions on PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in…
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Online posts express post-pandemic “fatigue” over reports of viral outbreaks
Medium Impact
On May 17, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and…
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Hantavirus cruise outbreak sets off wave of online conspiracy theories
Medium Impact
In early April, several passengers on a cruise ship became sick with hantavirus, which can cause severe illness and death.…
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Experts and online posts express concern over the health secretary’s SSRI comments
High Impact
At a May 4 Make America Healthy Again summit, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined plans to “curb psychiatric…
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Federal harm reduction cuts loom amid calls for a ban on opioid-like substances
Medium Impact
On April 24, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced in a letter to health departments that the…
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Singer’s shingles diagnosis sparks discussion about severity and vaccine effectiveness
Low Impact
In an April 28 social media post, a British singer in his 30s shared that he is recovering from shingles,…
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Posts discuss the benefits of male HPV vaccination
Low Impact
An April 24 news article highlighted the benefits of HPV vaccination for boys and men, sparking debate about the vaccine’s…
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Concern about the climate and health impacts of AI data centers grows online
Medium Impact
Debates about artificial intelligence data centers and their potential effects on local communities have been trending online in recent weeks.…
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Health Secretary continues to fuel measles myths amid ongoing outbreaks
Medium Impact
During an April 17 congressional hearing, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that the U.S. has contained measles outbreaks…
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Surging rotavirus cases spur calls for vaccination as trust in vaccines declines
Low Impact
Rising cases of rotavirus, which can cause fever, vomiting, and severe diarrhea, are raising concern among health officials and health…
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New “Cicada” COVID-19 variant concerns experts and the public
Medium Impact
A new COVID-19 variant, BA.3.2, is circulating in the U.S. and sparking conversation online. The variant, which was first detected…
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Landmark tech lawsuits prompt debate about teen mental health and social media
High Impact
On March 25, a California jury ruled against YouTube and Meta in a landmark case alleging that the companies knowingly…