Table 1 Conspiracy beliefs around MPX among the Lebanese population
Disagree | Neutral | Agree | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||
C1 | I am skeptical about the official explanation regarding the cause of MPX emergence” | 72 (9.1) | 446 (56.2) | 275 (34.7) |
C2 | I do not trust the information about the MPX from scientific experts | 176 (22.2) | 355 (44.8) | 262 (33.0) |
C3 | Most viruses including MPX are planned and man-made (NIT simulation) | 54 (6.8) | 362 (45.6) | 377 (47.5) |
C4 | The spread of viruses including MPX is a deliberate attempt to reduce the size of the global population”, | 89 (11.2) | 231 (29.1) | 473 (59.6) |
C5 | The spread of viruses including MPX virus is a deliberate attempt by authorities to gain political control” | 63 (7.9) | 281 (35.4) | 449 (56.6) |
C6 | The spread of viruses including MPX is a deliberate attempt by global companies to take control including pharmaceutical companies manufacturing vaccines | 50 (6.3) | 431 (54.4) | 312 (39.3) |
C7 | The spread of MPX is a deliberate attempt to attack African people and enhance discrimination | 155 (19.5) | 561 (70.7) | 77 (9.7) |
C8 | The spread of MPX is a deliberate discriminatory attempt to attack LGBTQ + | 217 (27.4) | 459 (57.9) | 117 (14.8) |
C9 | The control measures in response to emerging infection are aimed for mass surveillance and to control every aspect of our lives”, | 177 (22.3) | 539 (68.0) | 77 (9.7) |
C10 | The control measures in response to emerging infections are aimed for mass surveillance and destabilizing the economy for financial gain | 264 (33.3) | 453 (57.1) | 76 (9.6) |
C11 | The control measures including lockdown are a way to terrify, isolate, and demoralize a society as a whole to reshape society to fit specific interests | 269 (33.9) | 444 (56.0) | 80 (10.1) |
C12 | Viruses including MPX are biological weapons manufactured by the superpowers to take global control | 40 (5.0) | 587 (74.0) | 166 (20.9) |
C13 | MPX was a plot by globalists to destroy religion by banning gatherings”, | 156 (19.7) | 556 (70.1) | 81 (10.2) |
C14 | The mainstream media is deliberately feeding us misinformation about the MPX and lockdown | 82 (10.3%) | 572 (72.1) | 139 (17.5) |
C15 | The COVID-19 vaccination is linked to the MPX outbreak, | 344 (43.4) | 432 (54.5) | 17 (2.1) |
C16 | Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates has a role in the outbreak | 233 (29.4) | 44 (56.4) | 113 (14.2) |