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Reviews of articles from: Facebook
CLAIM REVIEWS
Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens, not an unbalanced, acidic cellular environment
CLAIM
"it is not the pathogens themselves which initiate disease, they only show up because of an acidic, compromised, cell terrain"
SOURCE: Facebook user, Facebook
Published: 31 Mar 2020
VERDICT
Gargling salt water or vinegar may soothe a sore throat, but it will not eliminate COVID-19
CLAIM
"Gargling with warm water and salt or vinegar eliminates the virus [SARS-CoV-2]"
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook, Twitter
Published: 27 Mar 2020
VERDICT
The virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on solid surfaces for days, but infection risk from contaminated objects is unknown
CLAIM
"[SARS-CoV-2] is spreading quickly from gas pumps. Shopping carts as well."
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 26 Mar 2020
VERDICT
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is real; the story that claims otherwise is a work of fiction
CLAIM
"There is no ‘coronavirus’"
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 25 Mar 2020
VERDICT
No, not every U.S. election year has had a disease outbreak and COVID-19 transmissibility is unconfirmed
CLAIM
"Every election year has a disease; coronavirus has a contagion factor of 2"
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 07 Mar 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
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
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
Triple antibiotic cream or gel cannot prevent the flu, may also worsen antibiotic resistance due to indiscriminate use
CLAIM
"Swabbing nostrils with triple antibiotic cream or gel will prevent the flu"
SOURCE: Facebook user, Facebook
Published: 09 Jan 2020
VERDICT
Acidity in bottled drinking water not a cause for health concern, contrary to popular Facebook video claim
CLAIM
"Drinking bottled water with an acidic pH is bad for your health"
SOURCE: Internet user, Facebook
Published: 13 May 2019
VERDICT