Summary Box: Fighting a pandemic digitally: News about threats move faster than virus

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Summary Box: Fighting pandemics in digital age

WHAT’S NEW: IPhone apps, social networks, Wikipedia and flu-tracking sites allow people to share information, shape conversations and keep tabs on health threats like never before.

HOW IT HELPS: By disseminating information quickly, people could be warned about outbreaks such as the swine flu sooner and take preventative measures.

HOW IT HURTS: Unreliable or false reports could lead to mass panic.