Corrections policy
Accuracy is fundamental to OutbreakThreat's mission. Because we aggregate public-health notices from agencies that may update or retract their own advisories, we maintain a clear process for handling corrections at every level.
When we correct our own content
If we discover that an OutbreakThreat summary, map signal, or brief contains an error - whether in geographic attribution, disease identification, case details, or source citation - we will:
- Correct the error as soon as it is identified, typically within 24 hours of notification.
- Add a visible correction note at the top of the affected page with the date and nature of the change.
- Update the "last updated" timestamp on the affected brief or signal.
- If the error materially changes the meaning of a brief (e.g., wrong disease or wrong country), send a correction notice to email subscribers who received the original alert.
When an agency updates or retracts a notice
Official publishers sometimes revise case counts, narrow geography, reclassify pathogens, or retract advisories entirely. When we become aware of such changes:
- We update our summary to reflect the revised agency text.
- We note that the original notice was updated and link to the current version.
- If an agency retracts a notice, we change the signal status to Resolved and add an explanatory note.
How to report an error
If you believe any OutbreakThreat content is inaccurate, please email support@outbreakthreat.com with:
- The URL of the affected page
- A description of the error
- The correct information, with a link to the authoritative source if available
We investigate every report and will respond within two business days.
Transparency
We do not silently remove content or alter summaries without notation. Every correction is logged with a date stamp. Our commitment is to accuracy and transparency, even when it means acknowledging a mistake.