Ebola BBM has community in a panic
There's a BBM message making the rounds that the Ebola virus has hit Durban's shores.
A MESSAGE circulating via BBM claiming that one person has died of the Ebola virus in Durban is a hoax.
The message read: ‘URGENT Please be aware that the Ebola Virus has reached Durban. 1 patient confirmed. PLEASE BE ALERT…Kindly take precautions…Re: A patient has passed away at the Mahatma Ghandi hospital and the area is quarantined. Confirmed by Tabloid Media. PLEASE REBROADCAST.’
However, the Northglen News’ sister paper, South Coast Herald, is reporting that they paid a visit to the Tabloid Media website only to find that the media organisation has also distanced itself from the BBM. A statement on its website reads:
‘Ebola BBM: Not confirmed by Tabloid Media – Tabloid Newspapers would like to categorically state that no Blackberry Broadcast Message was confirmed by editor or staff, regarding the death of a person at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Phoenix, as a result of being affected with the Ebola virus. Last night, frantic messages were circulated via BBM and social media claiming that “Tabloid Media” confirmed the death, however, no such article was written.
‘We request that if you have received this message that you ignore all correspondence and refrain from continuing to resend the message’.
Things you need to know about the Ebola virus
