Parameters of the Ebola-related news media contagion model of Eq 2 or Eq 3 (as appropriate to the sample), fit to the Ebola-related Google searches and tweets.

<p>The parameter <i>f</i> is the initial fraction of the population susceptible to news media induced Ebola interest or panic (as manifested by the particular Ebola-related Internet searches or tweets in our samples). The parameter <i>β</i> is the transmission rate, and 1/<i>γ</i> is the average time, in days between an individual viewing an Ebola-related news video, and performing an Ebola-related Google search or tweet. The average number of particular Internet searches or tweets in our samples inspired by a single news video in the initial susceptible population is <i>fβ</i>. The numbers in the square brackets represent the 95% confidence intervals.</p><p>Parameters of the Ebola-related news media contagion model of <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0129179#pone.0129179.e002" target="_blank">Eq 2</a> or <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0129179#pone.0129179.e003" target="_blank">Eq 3</a> (as appropriate to the sample), fit to the Ebola-related Google searches and tweets.