This year started with continuation of all and the start of new threats. Let us analyse some viral threats and their position in the media.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals (e.g., cattle, pigs, sheep), leading to fever and characteristic blisters in and around the mouth and feet and causing huge economic losses. It was detected on EU (Germany) on 10th January
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Avian influenza viruses, such as H5N1, primarily infect birds but can occasionally infect humans, posing a zoonotic risk. Widespread outbreaks among wild and domestic bird populations persist, driven by viral mutations and global bird migration patterns. Since spring 2024 more and more cases in mammals (humans among others) have been reported in North America.
Mpox (Monkeypox)
Mpox is a viral zoonosis most commonly found in Central and West Africa, but it can spread to other regions (such as global surge 2022–2023), often through travel and close contact. Since spring 2024 an uncontrolled outbreak of M-pox clade Ib in Congo-Kinshasa cause a an alarm by WHO
Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)
HMPV is a common respiratory virus that often causes cold-like symptoms but can lead to severe illness in young children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals. Huge discussion on the HMPV outbreak in China appeared around 3rd January.
Comparison of trajectories
Let look at trajectories of mentions and reach (all analyses done with Brand24) for these diseases.
FMD has a peak on Friday 10th January (outbreak detection in Germany) and some further discussions during working days after (decision of EU’ Commission and trade restriction by 3rd countries). HMPV is the most discussed 5-7 January. Avian Influenza has high intensivity of discourse till around 10th January (partially due to events that happened at the end of 2024).
The peak in reach for HMPV is around 2nd January. Also a clear peak of interest in Avian Influenza appeared around 7th January (human death in USA). Mpox discourse is moreover stable (no transmission events and imported cased of Ib variant in Global North).
Negative emotions
We see increasing in share of negative emotions for FMD since 16th January, mainly due to complains about economical conseqences. However, Avian Influenza is the most negative over the whole period, mainly due to fear and disappointment of the community about the US. Government response
Social vs traditional media
Social media is dominated by HMPV. It’s a typical sign of irrational panic.
Very huge differences in FMD (good exposure in traditional but marginal in social media) suggest typical orientation towards non-human host disease. Elite and engaged actors discuss FMD because it has a huge economic impact for Europe, however for the general population it makes no sense.
Distribution share in each medium for topics show that HMPV is driven by audiovisual and graphical context, but FMD is mostly professional (news and X) while mpox and Avian influenza are between.