Mapping the Mpox discourse: A network and sentiment analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Social Media Analysis

Background:

• Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) is a re-emerging zoonotic disease with pandemic potential.
• Understanding online discourse is crucial for managing public health crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map mpox discussions on Twitter/X.
• Identify key influencers, information sources, and public sentiment.
• Inform targeted public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• Collected 11,397 tweets using NodeXL Pro (May 2022 - Jan 2023).
• Analyzed network structure with Gephi and social network analysis.
• Conducted sentiment analysis using Azure Machine Learning.

Main Results:

• Network analysis revealed a diverse community of participants.
• Key influencers included journalists, academics, and medical professionals.
• News media and organizational websites were primary information sources.
• Negative sentiment predominated, with "Mpox" and "Monkeypox" as top hashtags.

Conclusions:

• Social media analysis offers insights into mpox communication dynamics.
• Addressing misinformation and promoting accurate scientific information is vital.
• Findings can guide public health strategies and emergency responses.