FACT CHECK: False claim that 194 WHO member countries agreed to arrest citizens opposing the bird flu vaccine

A post shared on Facebook claims 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member countries have purportedly agreed to arrest citizens who speak out against the bird flu vaccine.

Verdict: False

The claim is false and originally stems from a June 6 article published on “The People’s Voice,” a website that is known for spreading “fake news.” A spokesperson for the WHO denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

The WHO recently held its annual meeting where its 194 member countries met and agreed on “critical amendments” to its International Health Regulations, according to a news release on the organization’s website. The amendments include “introducing a definition of a pandemic emergency” and “a commitment to solidarity and equity,” the same release indicates.

The Facebook post claims 194 WHO countries have purportedly agreed to arrest citizens who speak out against the bird flu vaccine.

“One hundred and ninety-four member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed to start arresting and prosecuting citizens who speak out against the bird flu vaccination. This is part of a new, strict measure aimed at eradicating so-called ‘disinformation,’” the post reads. “The World Healthy Assembly has passed changes to the controversial international health regulations this week without much fuss in the mainstream media,” it continues.

The claim is false and originally stems from a June 6 article published on “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: Are UN Troops Going To Be Deployed Across The US Amid Potential’ Civil Unrest?’)

Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. In fact, the opposite is true. Reuters also reported the claim is false via a June 14 article. Additionally, the claim is neither referenced on the WHO’s website nor its verified social media accounts.

Furthermore, the WHO’s International Health Regulations document, published on June 1, 2024, does not provide any evidence to support the claim.

A spokesperson for the WHO denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

“This is false,” the same spokesperson said of the claim.