THE message circulating via BBM claiming that one person has died of the Ebola virus in Durban is a hoax.
The Zululand Observer as well as its sister newspaper, the South Coast Herald have been inundated with queries regarding the broadcast message.
The message reads: ‘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, a quick visit to the Tabloid Media website shows that they are not responsible for the hoax message. A statement on the 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’.
