Learning from the impact of misinformation and past infodemics: advancing public health through transparency, trust, and community engagement.

The article discusses the impact of misinformation on public health, using historical examples such as smallpox, cholera, the 1918 influenza, and HIV. It highlights how sociopolitical issues, delay in scientific consensus, and rapid media flow can lead to the integration of public health misinformation with significant consequences. The article also focuses on the current issue of measles cases reaching staggering levels globally, attributing it to misinformation surrounding the MMR vaccine. It emphasizes the need for transparency, trust, and community engagement to combat public health misinformation, including enhancing science communication approaches, promoting open science, and engaging community-based organizations and local leaders. [Extracted from the article]