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Hantavirus Outbreak Revives COVID-Era False Health Claims

A hantavirus outbreak linked to a Dutch cruise ship in early May was followed by false health claims that mirror patterns documented in previous outbreaks. The Monitor also examines a new analysis of Americans’ relationship with health and wellness influencers.

Polling

Public Uses Social Media for Health to Understand Others’ Experiences and Get Immediate Info; Some Also Cite Access and Cost Issues

This poll finds that about 3 in 10 adults turn to social media for health information and advice at least monthly. Community connection and the need for immediate answers are the top reasons why people are turning to these tools. Slim majorities of those who use social media for health are confident they can tell what is true, and relatively few take steps to check the information they receive.

Dashboard: Polling on Health Information and Trust

Drawing on KFF’s poll findings, this interactive dashboard tracks the public’s trusted sources for health information, attitudes toward vaccines, and use of news, social media, and AI for health-related information.

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  • As COVID-19 Divisions, Attacks, and Misinformation Take Their Toll, Less Than Half of the Public Is Confident That the CDC and FDA Can Carry Out Core Functions 

    News Release

    Five years after the start of  COVID-19 pandemic and the communications challenges, divisions, and false claims that followed, less than half of the public say they have at least some confidence in the federal government’s health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry out many of their core responsibilities, a new KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds.The low levels of…

  • Amid Growing Measles Outbreak, More Americans Are Encountering False Claims About the Measles Vaccine, and Many Aren’t Sure What to Believe

    News Release

    With health officials reporting 800 measles cases in multiple states already this year, most of the public – and most parents – report hearing at least one false claim about measles or the vaccine for it, and many of them aren’t sure what to believe, the latest KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds. The poll gauges whether the public has heard, and whether they believe, three false statements related to measles circulating…

  • KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: The Public’s Views on Measles Outbreaks and Misinformation

    Feature

    This poll looks at awareness and concern over the outbreak of measles in the U.S. and finds that a growing share of adults is encountering false claims about the measles vaccines, but many are uncertain whether these claims are true or false. Parents who lean toward believing the false claims are less likely to say they keep their children up to date on routine vaccinations.

  • Fluoride Bans and Food Safety Doubts — The Monitor

    Feature

    This Monitor covers how fears about fluoride as a neurotoxin are impacting public health and how trust in food safety is eroding following the USDA's disbandment of two food safety panels. It also discusses approaches to addressing false information and the accuracy of AI chatbots compared to search engines.

  • Bird Flu Knowledge, Misleading Claims About Measles Prevention, and Health Content Restrictions — The Monitor

    Feature

    This volume features findings on beliefs about bird flu from KFF’s latest Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust, as well as the false promotion of vitamin A as a preventative for measles. The Monitor also shares developments in content moderation on social media and how a study about mental health after gender-affirming care is misrepresented to make false claims about health care for transgender and non-binary people. Additionally, this volume explores when people prefer…

  • Poll: Most Republicans Do Not Trust CDC On Bird Flu

    News Release

    As bird flu continues to circulate among animals in the U.S. with some human cases, about six in 10 (58%) people overall have at least “a fair amount” of trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide reliable information about bird flu, though only 21% have a “great deal of trust,” the latest KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds.As the White House withdraws the nomination of Dr. David Weldon to…

  • KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Bird Flu

    Feature

    As bird flu continues to spread among animals in the U.S., KFF's Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds that the public is more concerned about its impact on food prices than potential health impacts. Trust in the CDC to provide information on bird flu is also divided along partisan lines, and a large share of the public is uncertain about public health agencies' recommendations for preventing infection.

  • COVID Vaccine Concerns and Claims About Ivermectin as Cancer Treatment — The Monitor

    Feature

    This volume covers recent claims about COVID vaccine safety after a new study describes a rare condition it calls “post-vaccination syndrome” (PVS). It also investigates the false claim that ivermectin can treat cancer and highlights the re-emergence of concerns online about Gardasil, and its alleged mortality rate.