38. How One Parent’s Decision Impacts Public Health in a Small Town

38. How One Parent’s Decision Impacts Public Health in a Small Town In a small town in the United States, a parent, influenced by conspiracy theories about vaccinations, decides not to vaccinate their child, leading to a measles outbreak in the local school. Individual outcomes The child, 8-year-old Emma, faces health risks throughout her entire…

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31. How a False Claim Sparks Nationwide Panic Buying of Flu Drugs

31. How a False Claim Sparks Nationwide Panic Buying of Flu Drugs In 2022, a famous influencer, Jenna Thompson, based in Los Angeles, falsely promotes a herbal supplement as a miracle cure for a new strain of flu on her social media platforms. Her significant following leads to panic buying across the United States, particularly…

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24. How a Single Post Ignites a Public Health Crisis in San Lorenzo

24. How a Single Post Ignites a Public Health Crisis in San Lorenzo In 2025, a fictional city, San Lorenzo, faces a public health crisis when false claims about the dangers of a new vaccine circulate on social media. Influenced by a viral post from a self-proclaimed health expert, Dr. Alex Freeman, many citizens, including…

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18. How Online Symptom Checkers Impact Healthcare in Brookside, UK

18. How Online Symptom Checkers Impact Healthcare in Brookside, UK In Brookside, a small town in the UK, Emma, a young professional, becomes convinced she has a rare disease after reading symptoms on WebMD and other health sites. This leads to unnecessary medical tests and anxiety. The town’s healthcare providers are overwhelmed by similar cases.…

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17. How a Pseudo-Expert’s Blog Endangered Residents of Healthville, USA

17. How a Pseudo-Expert’s Blog Endangered Residents of Healthville, USA In the city of Healthville, USA, a community health crisis emerges as residents, including middle-aged Susan, turn to online forums for medical advice. Influenced by a popular health blogger, Dr. Green (not a real doctor), people begin to follow unproven dietary regimens, leading to nutritional…

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09. How a Health Crisis Unfolded in Harmony, USA

09. How a Health Crisis Unfolded in Harmony, USA In the United States, a small town named Harmony becomes the epicenter of a health crisis when false information about a new disease spreads rapidly on social media. Local resident, Emily Johnson, a mother of two, shares a viral post claiming the disease is a government…

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02. The Role of Social Media Misinformation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

02: The Role of Social Media Misinformation During the COVID-19 Pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, some communities in Texas, USA, faced vaccine hesitancy issues due to misleading information about vaccine safety and efficacy spread through social media. Due to miscommunication and conflicting messages issued by different branches of government and public officials creating…

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