Health officials report that false claims regarding the spread of a cholera outbreak in northern Mozambique have resulted in violent protests and fatalities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified instances where misinformation about the disease has contributed to these acts of unrest.
Examining the protests through social media posts and local media reports, we have gained insight into the underlying causes of the disturbances.
In a recent incident in the town of Gurue, Zambezia province, a man was fatally beaten by individuals who falsely accused him of spreading cholera, as confirmed by health officials.
A graphic video circulating on social messaging platforms, witnessed by the BBC, depicts the man’s body surrounded by a large crowd.
Image caption, The death of a man in Gurue was recorded in a video obtained by the BBC
In another protest, four individuals were killed during clashes between police and a group that attacked homes and properties belonging to local officials in Nacala Porto, Nampula province.
In Cabo Delgado province, located further north, police resorted to firing shots into the air to disperse a crowd attempting to assault a health center in the Meluco district. These incidents highlight the dangerous consequences of misinformation and the urgent need to address the dissemination of false claims during public health crises.
It is unclear what is fuelling the misinformation – which is largely spreading through word of mouth – although our monitoring of social media has provided some insight.
Cholera thrives in conditions where water sanitation is inadequate.
Some online posts claim falsely that measures implemented by local health officials, such as adding chlorine to water supplies and the use of purifiers, are in fact spreading the disease.
The BBC’s Jose Tembe in Maputo says almost all violent cases related to cholera stem from misinformation.
“Also targeted are grassroots leaders who mobilise people to use the purifiers. The leaders are falsely thought to be part of the alleged group spreading the water-borne disease,” he says.
In a caption accompanying the video of the killing in Garue, the victim was alleged to have distributed infected “dust” at a property in the area.
The WHO Africa representative in Mozambique, Severin von Xylander, says misinformation is dangerous because it can fuel behaviour that drives the spread of disease.
Mozambique has been battling an outbreak of the disease since September last year.
It’s just one of many countries in the region facing rising cases of cholera, including South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, DR Congo and Kenya.
“This, in turn, undermines trust in health authorities, which hampers public health responses and ultimately prolongs outbreaks.”