FACT CHECK: Viral WhatsApp Message Claims 'Ebola Virus In Cold Drink', Govt Warns Users, Issues Alert

PIB FACT CHECK: The Government of India (GoI) has once warned the general public against a fake message being widely circulated on the popular WhatsApp messaging platform related to cold drinks. The message circulating on WhatsApp claims that the Indian Government has advised its citizens to avoid cold drinks as they are contaminated with the Ebola Virus. However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has done a Fact Check on the issue and claimed that the WhatsApp message is FAKE.

The WhatsApp message further reads: "Please forward this information to Hyderabad Police all over India." The fake message also mentions a few popular cold drink brands. "Please do not drink soft drinks like Maja, Coco Cola, 7up, Thumsup, Pepsi, Sprite, etc... because one of the company's workers mixed the contaminated blood of the dangerous virus called Ebola in it. This news was reported on NDTV channel yesterday. Please help by forwarding this message to everyone. Thanks", it further reads.

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PIB FACT CHECK:

Did you also receive a #WhatsApp forward claiming that the Government of India has advised citizens to avoid cold drinks as they are contaminated with the Ebola virus ⁉️#PIBFactCheck

❌Beware! This message is #fake

✅@MoHFW_INDIA has issued no such advisory! pic.twitter.com/EN0Esyq5cP

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) August 23, 2024

The Press Information Bureau started its operations in November 2019 with an aim to disseminate fake news & misinformation.

Since then, it has been reporting suspicious and questionable information being spread on social media platforms.

On behalf of the Government of India, the PIB has been doing a fact-check and issuing advisories and clarifications in the larger interest of the citizens of India.

The citizens are advised to stay alert of such misleading, unverified and fake messages on social media platforms and they should also verify the sender's details.

Among other important things, they are advised to check suspicious links, suspicious messages and urgent requests  for sharing personal data.

People are strongly advised to avoid sharing or clicking on such WhatsApp forwards.

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