Complete What’s Missing: A Guide on Meningococcal Disease and Medical Misinformation

Young people and college students living in dorms are at an increased risk of meningococcal disease, and, with in-person classes this fall, there is concern that outbreaks of meningococcal disease could occur. Even though these infections are preventable through vaccination, fewer than half of young people are fully vaccinated against meningococcal disease.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the importance of public health, the prevalence of medical misinformation online is making it harder than ever for young people to tell the difference between fact and fiction when it comes to protecting their health.

Educate your friends (and family) about meningococcal disease and the importance of being fully vaccinated and about ways to spot medical misinformation through this Complete What's Missing Guide, developed in partnership with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

PART 1: MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

What is Meningococcal Disease?

Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria which can cause meningitis, a brain and spinal cord infection with serious health complications, blood stream infection, and death.

How is Meningococcal Disease Spread?

Meningococcal disease is spread from person to person. The bacteria are spread by exchanging respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit) during close or lengthy contact (for example, sharing drinking glasses or kissing).

Where Have Outbreaks of Meningococcal Disease Happened?

Although outbreaks of meningococcal disease are rare in the US, outbreaks are unpredictable, and the outcomes can be devastating to affected communities and organizations.

Infectious diseases tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather, and several college campuses have reported outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease in recent years. Students on college campuses are in especially close contact with one another in classes, residence halls, and parties, increasing their risk of infection.

What are the Symptoms of Meningococcal Disease?

Early meningococcal disease symptoms are often similar to the flu, which can cause a delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms usually progress very quickly and may include some combination of high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and a purplish rash. Death can happen in as little as 24-48 hours. Up to 2 in 10 people who get meningococcal disease suffer from permanent complications, including brain damage, kidney damage, deafness, and limb loss.

What's the Best Protection Against Meningococcal Disease?

Vaccination is the best protection against meningococcal disease. There are two kinds of vaccines to prevent meningococcal disease: menACWY and menB. Many young people aren't fully protected because they've only completed part of the vaccination series.

Serogroup B is the most common cause of meningococcal disease in US adolescents and young adults, and was the cause of recent college campus outbreaks. Young people may think they're protected against meningococcal disease because they received the routinely recommended menACWY vaccines; however,there is a different vaccine series to prevent serogroup B meningococcal disease.

(The information provided above is specific to US audiences. Always seek the advice of your local health provider with any questions you may have regarding meningococcal disease and your health.)

PART 2: MEDICAL MISINFORMATION

What is Anecdotal Evidence?

Anecdotal evidence is based on individual observations that aren't collected in a scientific manner or representative of a systemic experience.

For example:

• A person's grandfather smoked a pack of cigarettes every day and lived to be 90 years old, with seemingly no health consequences.
• That person is spreading misinformation based on anecdotal evidence if they use their grandfather's experience to claim that smoking cigarettes is not harmful to health.
• The person cannot actually know whether their grandfather did or did not suffer health consequences as a result of smoking. Some consequences are not outwardly visible and would need to be observed by a medical professional.
• The grandfather's experience also does not negate the plethora of scientific research linking smoking to negative health outcomes in the general population.

When looking at health information online – particularly on social media – be skeptical of claims supported only by anecdotal evidence. A single, unscientific observation isn't enough to draw a universal conclusion or claim.

Reminder: If you read something that triggers a really strong emotional response (fear, panic, distressed, anger, etc.), chances are that claim has been sensationalized specifically to elicit a response or action. Take a moment to really evaluate the claim's authenticity and the person's motives before sharing.

How Can Misinformation Appear Scientific?

Scientific appearance is different from scientific evidence. One study found that misinformation is often framed with a scientific appearance, and was particularly prevalent with false claims related to vaccinations.

Claims on social media can appear scientifically sound by using scientific language or linking to external sources that echo those claims. It's important to recognize that not all sources are trustworthy. A website or text can look official but not actually have real scientific merit, and the existence of a source doesn't guarantee its accuracy.

Even news articles can sometimes misrepresent legitimate medical research or information. Always read articles thoroughly before sharing, keeping in mind that the best source is always the original. Look for a link out to the study or report that the article is referencing for the most accurate information.

What Should I Look For When Assessing a Source?

Here are a few questions to ask when assessing the accuracy of an online source:

• Who is writing and publishing this information?
• Was this information reviewed before it was posted? If so, was it reviewed by relevant medical professionals?
• What is the original source of the information on this website? Did the writer conduct the research, or did someone else?
• When was this research conducted/information published?
• Who owns/sponsors this site? Is it a federal agency, medical school, or hospital??
• Why was this site created? What are the motivations behind it?
  A reputable source will make most of this information clear through an "About Us" page or something similar. Your safest bets for accurate health information are government-run websites like those from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or organizations like the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.