(UPI) -- In his first advisory on Thursday as U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy cautioned that misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines is a public health threat and called on tech giants like Google to take steps to fight the spread of false data online.
In a 22-page report, "Confronting Health Misinformation," Murthy called the spread of misinformation an "infodemic."
"Misinformation has caused confusion and led people to decline COVID-19 vaccines, reject public health measures such as masking and physical distancing, and use unproven treatments," the report states.
Social media culture and the introduction of unvetted publications online have resulted in an increase in the spread of health misinformation, particularly involving the coronavirus pandemic, Murthy's advisory cautions.
The erroneous information, he says, poses serious challenges to ending the health crisis and threatens lives.
"Health misinformation is an urgent threat to public health. It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, and undermine public health efforts, including our ongoing work to end the COVID-19 pandemic," Murthy said in a statement.
"As Surgeon General, my job is to help people stay safe and healthy, and without limiting the spread of health misinformation, American lives are at risk ... tackling this challenge will require an all-of-society approach, but it is critical for the long-term health of our nation."
In a 22-page report, "Confronting Health Misinformation," Murthy called the spread of misinformation an "infodemic."
"Misinformation has caused confusion and led people to decline COVID-19 vaccines, reject public health measures such as masking and physical distancing, and use unproven treatments," the report states.
Social media culture and the introduction of unvetted publications online have resulted in an increase in the spread of health misinformation, particularly involving the coronavirus pandemic, Murthy's advisory cautions.
The erroneous information, he says, poses serious challenges to ending the health crisis and threatens lives.
"Health misinformation is an urgent threat to public health. It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, and undermine public health efforts, including our ongoing work to end the COVID-19 pandemic," Murthy said in a statement.
"As Surgeon General, my job is to help people stay safe and healthy, and without limiting the spread of health misinformation, American lives are at risk ... tackling this challenge will require an all-of-society approach, but it is critical for the long-term health of our nation."
