Ebola virus BBM: A confirmed hoax
The message reads as follows: "URGENT Please be aware that the Ebola virus has reached Durban. 1 patient confirmed. PLEASE BE ALERT…Kindly take precautions…"
A BBM message has been causing a stir in KZN.
The message said that Ebola had reached Durban and claimed the life of one person at the Mahatma Ghandi Hospital.
According to the South Coast Herald, ‘The message circulating via BBM claiming that one person has died of the Ebola virus in Durban is a hoax.’
The message reads as follows: “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.”
A quick search on the Tabloid Media website revealed a statement which read:
‘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.’
