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arXiv · 2505.20584

A Dashboard Approach to Monitoring Mpox-Related Discourse and Misinformation on Social Media

Linfeng·Zhao·Rishul Bhuvanagiri·Blake Gonzales·Kellen Sharp·Dhiraj Murthy
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Abstract

Mpox (formerly monkeypox) is a zoonotic disease caused by an orthopoxvirus closely related to variola and remains a significant global public health concern. During outbreaks, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) can both inform and misinform the public, complicating efforts to convey accurate health information. To support local response efforts, we developed a researcher-focused dashboard for use by public health stakeholders and the public that enables searching and visualizing mpox-related tweets through an interactive interface. Following the CDC's designation of mpox as an emerging virus in August 2024, our dashboard recorded a marked increase in tweet volume compared to 2023, illustrating the rapid spread of health discourse across digital platforms. These findings underscore the continued need for real-time social media monitoring tools to support public health communication and track evolving sentiment and misinformation trends at the local level.

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Linfeng, Zhao, Rishul Bhuvanagiri, Blake Gonzales, Kellen Sharp, Dhiraj Murthy. 2025-05-26. A Dashboard Approach to Monitoring Mpox-Related Discourse and Misinformation on Social Media. https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.20584

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