Disinformation on penis-shrinking illness in DRC leads to violence and deaths
via Business News3 min read
A rumor originating in isolated villages in the Tshopo province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming a mysterious illness caused the "atrophy" or "disappearance" of male genitalia, escalated into a security and health crisis. Social media posts, WhatsApp voice notes, viral videos, and local testimonies fueled the panic. This occurred in a context of strong distrust towards health authorities, following Ebola epidemics and vaccination campaigns. In October, four health agents conducting vaccination research were attacked and killed by an angry mob who accused them of being responsible for the alleged illness. Local authorities struggled to contain the rumor, which was amplified on digital platforms. The Africa Infodemic Response Alliance AIRA, coordinated by the World Health Organization, reported at least 17 deaths linked to this rumor in various regions of Congo. Reuters' investigation revealed that some local churches and religious preachers contributed to spreading these narratives, sometimes during public sermons. Researchers specializing in disinformation explain that such rumors thrive in contexts of poverty, insecurity, and limited access to reliable scientific information. Social media accelerates their spread, turning emotional videos or unverified testimonies into widely shared content. Public health experts warn that this type of disinformation undermines medical and vaccination campaigns, potentially complicating efforts to prevent real diseases like chol
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