Claim reviews
Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that smoking causes lung cancer, instead of protecting against it
CLAIM
Smoking may protect lungs from cancer
SOURCE: Grayson Black, NewsPunch
Published: 12 Feb 2020
VERDICT
2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) does not contain “pShuttle-SN” sequence; no evidence that virus is man-made
CLAIM
2019 novel coronavirus contains 'pShuttle-SN' sequence proving laboratory origin
SOURCE: Alex Jones, Mike Adams, InfoWars, Natural News
Published: 10 Feb 2020
VERDICT
No causal association between the DTaP vaccine and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
CLAIM
The DTaP vaccine causes SIDS
SOURCE: Dawn Lorenz, Raising Natural Children
Published: 07 Feb 2020
VERDICT
No, “HIV insertions” were not identified in the 2019 coronavirus, contrary to claims based on questionable bioinformatics study
CLAIM
Coronavirus contains 'HIV insertions'
SOURCE: Anonymous, Zero Hedge, InfoWars
Published: 04 Feb 2020
VERDICT
The 2019 coronavirus outbreak is caused by a novel virus, past mentions of coronaviruses refer to different strains
CLAIM
coronavirus is not a new virus
SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook
Published: 04 Feb 2020
VERDICT
“15% fatality rate” from coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection was based only on initial cases; infection fatality rate likely less than 3%
CLAIM
Coronavirus hits 15% fatality rate
SOURCE: Mike Adams, Natural News
Published: 03 Feb 2020
VERDICT
No, an “FDA study” did not find that vaccines contain cancer-causing viruses
CLAIM
The FDA study looked at vaccines that are made from living cells [...] oftentimes contaminated with hidden viral fragments which have the potential to cause cancer.
SOURCE: Aaron Kesel, Activist Post, Principia Scientific
Published: 31 Jan 2020
VERDICT
No increased risk of autism observed in African-American boys associated with MMR vaccine; claim based on erroneous study retracted in 2014
CLAIM
The CDC found a 236% increased risk of autism in African-American boys associated with the MMR vaccine
SOURCE: Brian Hooker, Facebook
Published: 27 Jan 2020
VERDICT
No conclusive evidence links consumption of bats with the 2019 coronavirus outbreak
CLAIM
Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak linked to eating bats
SOURCE: Emma Parker, Gemma Mullin, Paul Joseph Watson, Daily Star, The Sun, InfoWars
Published: 26 Jan 2020
VERDICT
Contrary to claims in viral social media posts, 2019 coronavirus was not lab-created nor was it patented years before outbreak
CLAIM
[The coronavirus is] “new” yet it was lab-created and patented in 2015
SOURCE: Chris Kirckof, Jordan Sather, Facebook, Twitter
Published: 24 Jan 2020
VERDICT