Panic over Uganda H1N1 Swine Flu Text Message Hoax

by jordan | June 19, 2009 at 09:15 am

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An H1N1 swine flu text message hoax has been spreading throughout Uganda, claiming that swine flu has broken out in the region. This has been debunked has a chain-letter hoax.

Confusion reigned at first, since the Ministry of Health uses text messaging to spread alerts, and Ugandan Parliament discussed the issue, coming to the conclusion that the texts were sent py parties other than the Ministry of Health.

It purported to come from the health ministry, told people not to eat pork and promised free airtime for those who passed the message to 25 other people.

The text of the message is as follows:

The anonymous text reads: "Ministry of Health warning; to avoid swine flu which is suspected to be already in Uganda, you are advised not to eat pork or be near pigs for the time being. The first case [of swine flu] reported in Ggaba and Nakulabye. Send this message to 25 people and MTN will reward you with airtime."

The Minsitry of Health asserts that Uganda has indeed not found any cases of H1N1.

Dr Mallinga said officials at Entebbe had confined four people with symptoms of the flu but medical observations and tests revealed "they were negative."
He did not state when the suspected cases were reported.

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