WhatsApp, COVID-19 Related Misinformation in Africa and the Need for Continuous Infoveillance

WhatsApp is a social media application preferred for its ease-of-use in sharing real-time information during COVID-19 and public health emergencies in Africa. Yet, like a double-edged sword, the absence of fact-checking avenues within the app allow for the spread of health misinformation, hindering prevention and control efforts. In this commentary, we help readers understand the patterns of use and factors that influence the sharing of COVID-19-related misinformation among WhatsApp users in Africa, based on already available literature, and to make recommendations on how to reduce the public health implications through a multi-stakeholder approach.