Akeed - Dana Al Emam

A number of local media outlets spread misleading news about an alleged “outbreak” of the bubonic plague, known historically as the “Black Death”, in China. Akeed has found these articles were exaggerated and alarmist, and were inaccurate in the connections they drew to the coronavirus pandemic.

Akeed monitored a number of articles spread on local news sites, with headlines such as:

The plague spreads in China as authorities announce a level three warning

China warns of an outbreak of the “Black Death”... threat level raised

Beijing defeats coronavirus… and the country enters a battle with the Plague

Beijing defeats coronavirus and enters a battle with the Plague

Meanwhile, international media outlets published news reports that claimed registering only one plague infected case in Inner Mongolia, in central China. The reports clarified that the infected person is receiving treatment at a hospital, and is in good health condition.

Chinese health authorities, for their part, announced a Level-3 State of Emergency, the second lowest in a four-level system. The declaration means citizens are prohibited from hunting or interacting with potentially infected animals in the region. This includes marmots, a common animal in Inner Mongolia, which may be the cause of the infection.

The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, says that the plague is a disease that is caused by a type of bacteria that is often found on the bodies of small mammals, and fleas that live on them. The bacteria can move to humans through the bites of infected fleas, by touching infected animals, or by the exposure to droplets on the breath of infected people or animals.

The bubonic plague causes swelling and pain in the lymph nodes, yet the death rate among those infected can reach 100% for cases that do not receive treatment within the first 24 hours of infection. Nonetheless, early treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy can help patients fully recover.

According to the WHO, 3248 cases of the plague were recorded globally from 2010 to 2015, killing a total of 584 people, meaning that the infection on its own is not a serious danger.

In light of the spread of coronavirus, which has infected more than 11 million people worldwide, and claimed the lives of more than 500,000 individuals, careful monitoring and sharing of news is crucial. This is especially true in the context of medical news, in order to avoid alarmism and exaggeration, and to investigate scientific accuracy.

In March, Akeed also monitored media outlets’ spread of inaccurate news about a new virus hitting China and claiming lives, which was widely circulated.

Akeed reminds media outlets of the importance of verifying the accuracy and truth of information from reliable sources before spreading it, and of their responsibility for their coverage, especially for disease-related news.