Multiple posts online claim that the government is planning to impose a lockdown in the coming days due to the threat of Nipah virus. This is fake.
On Feb. 1, a Facebook page posted a graphics card containing the following text:
“BREAKING NEWS. LOCKDOWN, POSIBLENG IPATUPAD DAHIL SA BANTANG NIPAH VIRUS
(BREAKING NEWS. Lockdown possibly implemented due to nipah virus threat).”
The caption of the spurious post partly read:
“Isinasalang-alang ng ilang awtoridad ang posibleng pagpapatupad ng lockdown o mas mahigpit na paghihigpit sa galaw ng publiko sa mga susunod na araw bilang paghahanda laban sa bantang dulot ng Nipah virus.”
(Some authorities are considering the possible implementation of a lockdown or stricter restrictions on public movement in the coming days in preparation against the threat posed by the Nipah virus.)
On the same day, another page published a similar post with a copy-pasted caption and a nearly identical headline, which drew even higher engagement.
As of Feb. 9, there has been no official announcement from the Department of Health or any government agency regarding a lockdown.
The Philippines currently has no active cases of Nipah virus, according to an Feb. 6 advisory issued by the DOH.
The agency earlier said border surveillance and screening protocols are in place in the Philippines as a preventive measure against Nipah virus. Instead of restricting travel, the Bureau of Quarantine has recommended increasing public awareness about the virus, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo was quoted as saying in a news report.
“Ang DOH Bureau of Quarantine ay nananatiling mapagmatyag at inirerekomenda ang mas mataas na kamalayan sa halip na paghihigpit sa paggalaw ng mga manlalakbay,” Domingo said in a report from GMA News.
“Walang mga internasyonal na rekomendasyon para sa mga paghihigpit sa paglalakbay (There are no international recommendations for travel restrictions),” he added.
The incorrect posts surfaced after two confirmed Nipah virus cases were recorded in West Bengal State, India. In Jan. 27, India’s Ministry of Health and Family assured the public that it has ensured “timely containment” of the cases.
According to the World Health Organization, Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus that is usually transmitted from animals to humans, but can also be transmitted through contaminated food or between human-to-human contact.
Just last week VERA Files debunked posts claiming that classes in public and private schools were being suspended because of a supposed Nipah virus outbreak in the country.
As of writing, the post about a lockdown published by FB Page TERNATE ONE, has so far garnered 1,400 reactions; 605 comments; and 331 shares. The graphics card uploaded by BastaCavite page received 114 reactions; 42 comments; and 56 shares.
