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. 2016;72(5):304-310.
doi: 10.1080/00963402.2016.1216515. Epub 2016 Aug 11.

Fear factor: The unseen perils of the Ebola outbreak

James M Shultz, Benjamin M Althouse, Florence Baingana, Janice L Cooper, Maria Espinola, M Claire Greene, Zelde Espinel, Clyde B McCoy, Laurie Mazurik, Andreas Rechkemmer

Fear factor: The unseen perils of the Ebola outbreak

James M Shultz et al. Bull At Sci. 2016.

Abstract

As illustrated powerfully by the 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak in western Africa, infectious diseases create fear and psychological reactions. Frequently, fear transforms into action - or inaction - and manifests as "fear-related behaviors" capable of amplifying the spread of disease, impeding lifesaving medical care for Ebola-infected persons and patients with other serious medical conditions, increasing psychological distress and disorder, and exacerbating social problems. And as the case of the US micro-outbreak shows, fear of an infectious-disease threat can spread explosively even when an epidemic has little chance of materializing. Authorities must take these realities into account if they hope to reduce the deadly effects of fear during future outbreaks.

Keywords: Ebola; fear-related behaviors; pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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