Infodemiology of Vibrio and Shewanella infections in Norway (2018–2023): research findings for public health communication

Abstract Objective Vibrio and Shewanella (VS) species are climate-sensitive bacteria thriving in marine environments with moderate salinity. The emerging public health concern related to VS has been reported in national and local media, with increased interest during summer heatwaves. This study aims to analyze the dissemination of information regarding VS infections in Norway from 2018 to 2023, using infodemiology to enhance public health communication strategies. Results Our analysis revealed that the number of VS cases doubled during the exceptionally warm summer of 2018, media reports showed a decreasing trend from 2018 to 2022, followed by a significant increase in media coverage in 2023 which correlated with public web searches; however, this did not reflect in a rise in reported VS cases. Additionally, there was a notable shift in public search terminology, moving from scientific toward more popular terms. These findings suggest that while increased media coverage influences public interest, it may not accurately reflect the actual infection risk. This underscores the need for a well-balanced and targeted communication strategy to raise awareness among at-risk groups such as individuals with a weakened immune system or elderly with existing open wounds before or during swimming-related activities.