World Federation of Science Journalists: Tips for covering epidemics

| July 4, 2016

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West Africa is celebrating the end of the Ebola crisis, but yellow fever is now worrying many national departments of health. DRC and Angola are currently facing an epidemic; there are 67 confirmed cases and 1,000 people being monitored in DRC. In Angola, the World Health Organization says 345 people have died of yellow fever in the last seven months, and there are more than 3,000 cases.

Good reporting is essential during outbreaks and epidemics. Journalists and broadcasters help the public become aware of the crisis, the response, and what they should do to avoid getting sick.

The World Federation of Science Journalists has compiled some tips, tricks, and advice for covering Ebola, but their recommendations apply to all disease outbreaks. This document provides information about Ebola and the vaccine development process in general, but also tips on reliable sources of information and how to remain sensitive to the local culture in your reporting.

http://wfsj.org/ebola/intro/