Wrote: Etrit Rexhepi
An image is published showing Paracetamol P-500 drugs, the inscription of which suggests that these tablets should not be used, as they allegedly contain the Machupo virus.
content was found published (January 12) on a Facebook page called "Kosova Channel".
What is the truth?
Hibrid.info has found that the drugs in question are not sold in our country and do not contain the virus that is claimed.
Hibrid.info researched through manual search in search tools and came across an article published by the fact-checking platform, "AFP".
This platform has addressed the same claim, which has been spread in Thailand. allegation It has been assessed as false by "AFP", also based on expert statements.
The potential risk from these drugs has also been dismissed by a Singaporean government agency, the Health Science Authority (HSA). Hibrid.info has found article published on August 2, 2017 by this agency, which presents the institutional address through which HSA assesses the claims as untrue.
Based on the fact that, according to the check made by the fact checker 'AFP', this Paracetamol P-500 not for sale in the state of Thailand, hibrid.info has verified whether this product is sold in Kosovo.
in list of products with Marketing Authorization in the Republic of Kosovo published by the Kosovo Agency for Medicinal Products and Devices (AKPPM), Paracetamol P-500 tablets are missing, which means that these drugs are not sold in Kosovo.
What is the Machupo virus?
Machupo virus (MACV) causes a severe disease called Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever (BHF), which has a high mortality rate of up to 35%. This virus belongs to the Arenaviridae family of viruses and is an enveloped RNA virus. The infection is transmitted mainly by rodents, especially a species of rat, Calomys callosus. The virus can be spread through airborne droplets, consumption of food contaminated with rodent urine or feces, or even by direct contact with the virus. Human-to-human transmission is rare.
Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and may be accompanied by bleeding from the mouth, nose, lungs, and urinary tract. Hemorrhagic damage can be fatal, and the mortality rate is 25-35%. There is no cure for the disease, and treatment is supportive. The best prevention is rodent population control, and an attenuated vaccine has been used for at-risk individuals.
Analyze:
The claim that Paracetamol P-500 drugs contain the Machupo virus is false.
The claim has been refuted by fact-checkers and state institutions outside Kosovo.
Also, the drugs in question are not sold in Kosovo.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses the content as "Fake News".
Reasoning:
The “Fake News” rating is given to informational content that is entirely fabricated or that contains factually incorrect claims or information. Content that is rated as fake news can be defined as having been created and distributed with the intent to misinform the public, i.e., to present a claim that is completely false as fact.