Misinformation and disinformation surrounding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could cost lives, a former Department of Health (DOH) secretary said Thursday, Sept. 2.

The World Health Organization defines infodemic as too much information, including false or misleading information in digital and physical environments during a disease outbreak, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a virtual forum, former DOH Secretary Dr. Esperanza Cabral expressed how the COVID-19 infodemic could potentially harm people's health and cost their lives.

" can increase stigmatization, threaten health gains, lead to poor observance of public health measures, thus reducing their effectiveness and endangering a country's ability to stop the pandemic," Cabral said.

"Without correct information, diagnostic tests will go unused, immunization targets are not going to be met, and the virus will continue to thrive," she added.

Conspiracy theories about COVID-19, meanwhile, can make people cynical and less likely to comply with the official recommendation, Cabral noted.

Cabral cited those who spread vaccines and health hoaxes.

"There's no such thing as 100 percent vaccine, that's the purpose of scientific research, to tell us these things so we can decide whether it's good for us to get a vaccine or not. We need to listen to the weight of the evidence and the people who are against the evidence or for the evidence," she added.

"Persons who spread misinformation will also cherry-pick data or anecdotes, as well as more dangerously introduce conspiracy theories."

Cabral urged the public to be keen on recognizing fake news.

"If we find out that something is fake news let's actively refute this. Let's give the voice to truth whatever we are in and whoever we are, we should be truthtellers."

She also called on the government to increase efforts to disseminate clear public health information in partnership with trusted messengers.