Social inequality and cultural factors impact the awareness and reaction during the cryptic transmission period of pandemic.

ABSTRACT: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 2020 January 31. However, rumors of a "mysterious virus" had already been circulating in China in 2019 December, possibly preceding the first confirmed COVID-19 case. Understanding how awareness about an emerging pandemic spreads through society is vital not only for enhancing disease surveillance, but also for mitigating demand shocks and social inequities, such as shortages of personal protective equipment and essential supplies. Here we leverage a massive e-commerce dataset comprising 150 billion online queries and purchase records from 94 million people to detect the traces of early awareness and public response during the cryptic transmission period of COVID-19. Our

SUBMITTER: Jiang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11833685 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature