Germ Denial: How to Recognize and Respond to Protect Public Health

A Guide to Germ Denial and Germ Deniers

In the United States, I am increasingly seeing people reject scientific consensus and, more worrisome, receive acclaim for doing so. Among the most dangerous forms of this rejection is the resurgence of germ denial: the belief that microbes are not a major cause of disease and death.

While some germ deniers go so far as to claim viruses and bacteria are not dangerous or, oddly, that they do not even exist, a more insidious version has spread rapidly since COVID-19 emerged. It’s cloaked in language about “natural health,” distrust of industry, and the promise of “boosting your immune system.”

All of us, whether we are health professionals, scientists, or just concerned citizens, need to understand how to recognize germ denial when we see it. Just as we confront racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and fascism as corrosive social forces, I believe we must also push back against movements that erode our shared understanding of science and endanger public health.

Explore the Guide

• Part 1: How to Recognize a Germ Denier
  Learn the eight most common beliefs and tactics used by people who reject germ theory, including terrain theory and supplement-based denialism.
• Part 2: How to Talk to a Germ Denier
  Get practical, emotionally intelligent strategies for navigating difficult conversations with skeptics, conspiracy theorists, or misinformed friends and family.
• Part 3: Resources and Checklists
  Download printable tools and explore articles, glossary terms, and science-backed resources to support respectful and informed dialogue.