Paracetamol Contaminated With The Deadly ‘Machupo’ Virus Is A Hoax Warning

Paracetamol Contaminated With The Deadly ‘Machupo’ Virus Is A Hoax Warning. Paracetamol or otherwise known as acetaminophen being reported to have been contaminated with the dangerous Machupo virus is a hoax warning. A hoax is circulating social media that the over-the-counter painkiller is contaminated with the Machupo virus and should be avoided. In early 2017, social media warnings about paracetamol allegedly contaminated with the Machupo virus began circulating. Public health officials have released statements confirming that the rumors were just that, and not credible. “[Prior to the spread of social media rumors, the agency] never received credible reports that support the claim that the Machupo virus has been found in Paracetamol drug product or other drug products. Machupo virus itself is known is a type of virus that spread can occur through air, food, or direct contact. “The Malaysian Health Ministry today shot down rumours circulating on social media that P/500 paracetamol tablets in Malaysia contain the ‘Machupo’ virus. “It is spread through the urine or faeces of infected rodents,” he said in a statement today. Have you seen people spreading this hoax on social media?

Author: Shawn Rice / Source: Business 2 Community

Paracetamol or otherwise known as acetaminophen being reported to have been contaminated with the dangerous Machupo virus is a hoax warning. A hoax is circulating social media that the over-the-counter painkiller is contaminated with the Machupo virus and should be avoided.

Where did this hoax originate? In early 2017, social media warnings about paracetamol allegedly contaminated with the Machupo virus began circulating. Machupo (also known as “Bolivian hemorrhagic virus” or “black typhus”) is endemic in north and east Bolivia, and is generally spread through air or food.

According to these warnings, new “very white and shiny” P/500 paracetamol has become contaminated with the pathogen, posing a severe risk of infection for those who take the drug. However, these warnings generally appear alone, without any news reports or public health agency releases attached to corroborate the claims.

Here are some examples of people sharing the hoax on social media.