FACT CHECK: Did The WHO Warn That Upcoming Elections Must Be Canceled Due To Bird Flu Outbreak?
The post shared on Facebook claiming that the World Health Organization (WHO) warned governments to cancel upcoming elections due to a bird flu outbreak is false. The claim originated from a website known for spreading fake news. Different strains of bird flu have been found in various countries, but there is no evidence to support the claim made in the Facebook post. The WHO website does not mention anything about canceling elections due to bird flu. It is important to fact-check information before sharing it.
A post shared on Facebook claims the World Health Organization (WHO) has purportedly warned governments across the world to cancel their upcoming elections due to the recent bird flu outbreak.
Verdict: False
The claim is false and originally stems from a June 6 article published by “The People’s Voice,” a website that is known for spreading “fake news.”
Fact Check:
Different strains of bird flu have been found in multiple countries including Australia, Mexico, Cambodia, and others, according to Reuters. Humans who have contracted the virus said they were exposed to “poultry, live poultry markets, or dairy cattle,” the outlet reported.
The Facebook post claims the WHO has purportedly warned governments across the world to cancel their upcoming elections due to the recent bird flu outbreak. “WHO Warns Bird Flu Outbreak Means Govt’s Must’ Cancel Upcoming Elections,’” the post reads in part. “In an urgent notice posted to its website, the WHO claims that Bird Flu is set to become the next Pandemic, and will be deadlier than COVID,” it continues.
The claim is false and originally stems from a June 6 article published by “The People’s Voice,” a website that is known for spreading “fake news.” A “Liability Disclaimer” included on the site’s “Terms of Use” page indicates it “makes no representations about the suitability, reliability, availability, timeliness, and accuracy of the information, software, products, services and related graphics contained on the site for any purpose.”
The site, which has previously been known as “NewsPunch” and “YourNewsWire,” is described as “one of the most well-known purveyors of fake news online,” according to a 2019 article from Mashable. (RELATED: Has Bill Gates Launched A Dairy Alternative Called ‘Maggot Milk?’)
The article references a June 5 post shared via the WHO’s website indicating an individual in Mexico died following a fatal case of the avian influenza A (H5N2) virus. The same post states the WHO deemed the virus as posing a “low risk” to the general population at the time. Likewise, the article does not mention anything about the WHO purportedly urging governments across the world to cancel their upcoming elections, as the Facebook post claims.
In addition, Check Your Fact did not find evidence to support the claim on the WHO’s website or on its verified social media accounts.
Furthermore, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On July 10, Reuters reported the claim was false.
Check Your Fact has contacted a WHO spokesperson for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
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