ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 epidemic has spawned an "infodemic," with excessive and unfounded information that hinders an appropriate public health response. This perspective describes a selection of COVID-19 fake news that originated in Peru and the government's response to this information. Unlike other countries, Peru was relatively successful in controlling the infodemic possibly because of the implementation of prison sentences for persons who created and shared fake news. We believe that similar actions by other countries in collaboration with social media companies may offer a solution to the infodemic problem.
Subject(s)
Communication , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Health Communication/standards , Health Education/standards , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Deception , Government Regulation , Health Literacy , Humans , Pandemics , Peru , SARS-CoV-2 , Social MediaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The use of iron pots has decreased the prevalence of anemia. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the release of iron, zinc, and lead from metallic iron and zinc bars incubated in water and in meals. METHODS: Iron, zinc, and lead concentrations were measured at different incubation conditions in water and in meals. RESULTS: The iron concentration in water was 1.26 mg/L after incubation with one iron bar at pH 7 and 100 degrees C for 20 minutes and in meals was 0.97 mg per 100 g of wet meals, rich in phytate, cooking at 100 degrees C during 20 minutes. The maximum contents were 7720 mg/L of iron and 1826 mg/L of zinc in vinegar at pH 3 and 20 degrees C after 90 and 32 days, respectively. Lead was released from the bars, but at concentrations well below the upper tolerable limits. DISCUSSION: In outreach populations, the use of iron and zinc metallic bars in water and meals could contribute to sustainable, very low-cost prevention of iron and zinc deficiencies, and home-fortified vinegar could be used for treatment of both deficiencies. CONCLUSIONS: Field trials should be performed to determine the impact that the use of iron and zinc metallic bars in water and meals might have on the iron and zinc status of population groups.
