GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ¨C ?In Tshopo, a northeastern Congolese province blanketed in rainforest, rumors rippled through villages late last year claiming a mysterious illness had caused men¡¯s genitals to atrophy.
Within days, testimonials proliferated on social media that amplified the imaginary threat, triggering a real-life panic that turned deadly before the government could react.
Angry mobs attacked and killed four health workers conducting vaccination research in an episode that took place in October, four officials and a survivor said ¡ª a deadly example of the rising danger posed by online health misinformation in Africa.
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