Search Results for covid-19

Instagram reel promotes the baseless claim that viruses don’t exist, ignoring more than a century of science about infectious diseases

Diseases can have infectious and non-infectious causes. Germ theory holds that certain diseases can be caused by microorganisms. This theory is key to our modern ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases. It explains why things like antibiotics, vaccines, and improvements in sanitation produced public health breakthroughs. While some diseases can be caused by deficiencies in the individual, in keeping with the concept of the terrain theory, such as Vitamin C deficiency, this doesn’t mean that all diseases are caused by imbalances in the body.

Epidemiological data refutes the claim that polio is renamed to hide the disease and the polio vaccine doesn’t work

Polio is a disease caused by the poliovirus that is spread through the oral-fecal route. It affects the nerves and can lead to life-threatening and disabling disease in a certain proportion of infected people. The polio vaccine, coupled with improvements in sanitation and polio surveillance programs, have been critical to eradicating polio around the world. Nationwide surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), which is the main way in which polio manifests itself, is considered the gold standard for polio detection.

False-positive HIV tests don’t imply that a person is immunodeficient, contrary to claim by Peter McCullough

Immunodeficiency is broadly defined as a state in which a person’s immune system is unable to fight off infections and cancer. It can arise as a result of genetic conditions, infection, or other environmental factors. One form of immunodeficiency, called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is caused by untreated HIV infection. HIV detection tests are highly specific, meaning most positive test results are truly positive. Rarely, infections by other pathogens and underlying health conditions can cause false-positive results in HIV tests, but this doesn’t indicate immunodeficiency. COVID-19 vaccines don’t cause false-positive HIV tests nor do they cause immunodeficiency.

Vaccines don’t cause childhood cancer, contrary to claim by Candace Owens

Childhood vaccines typically don’t undergo testing for carcinogenicity and mutagenicity because their safety has already been demonstrated in earlier studies. Published scientific studies so far haven’t found reliable evidence showing that childhood vaccination increases the risk of childhood cancer. In fact, some childhood vaccines, such as the Hepatitis B vaccine and the human papillomavirus vaccine, protect individuals from certain cancers.

Social media account “I AM Awakened” exploits seasonal illness surge to promote conspiracy that chemicals in food cause a “plandemic”

Respiratory viruses like the flu, RSV, the common cold, and SARS-CoV-2 tend to circulate more widely in winter, resulting in more respiratory illnesses in winter months. Chlorine-containing compounds are common antimicrobial agents used in the food industry to kill harmful bacteria and improve the safety of food products. Benzene can occur as a result of naturally-occurring compounds in soft drinks and beverages. Regulatory agencies in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have found that benzene levels in soft drinks and beverages are generally well within safe limits.

Anti-vaccination organization spreads baseless claim that global HPV vaccination campaign will lead to “mass casualty event”

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can be spread by skin-to-skin contact, often through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. While many HPV infections are eventually cleared by the body’s immune system, certain types of HPV can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, or back of the throat. HPV vaccination, combined with regular cervical cancer screenings, can reduce the risk of cervical cancer.