New Delhi, February 5: A spree of messages went viral on social media, attributing boiled garlic water as an "effective cure" for the Novel Coronavirus. The messages are spreading rapidly among Indian social media users on Twitter. To prevent the circulation of fake news, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a statement on its Fact Check handle on the microblogging site. Fact Check: ‘Arsenicum Album 30’ Homeopathic Medicine, Recommended by AYUSH Ministry of India To Cure Coronavirus Infection As Claimed? Here's The TRUTH!
The PIB Fact Check team categorically rejected the claims being made in viral messages. The government-run information provider said garlic water is not a cure to the SARS-like virus emanating from China. Social media users were advised to remain cautious of unverified messages circulating on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.
“Good news, Wuhan’s corona virus can be cured by one bowl of freshly boiled garlic water. Old Chinese doctor has proven its efficiency. Many patients has also proved this to be effective. Eight (8) cloves of chopped garlics add seven (7) cups of water and bring to boil. Eat and drink the boiled garlic water, overnight improvement and healing. Glad to share this…”, reads one of the fake messages going viral.
See Fake Messages Circulating on Twitter
Good news, Wuhan’s corona virus can be cured by one bowl of freshly boiled garlic water #coronarovirus pic.twitter.com/AY1DwU8x2D
— Hidayat Ullah Roghani 💎 (@HidayatullahPTI) January 31, 2020
Garlic Water Claimed as Cure For Coronavirus
Plz drink boiled garlic water and save your self from Corona virus 🙏#staysafe pic.twitter.com/qtOmQHI8R6
— sushil k khadka (@sushilkkhadka1) February 2, 2020
'Chinese Doctors' Attributed Behind Fake Message
According to pol on #LinkedIn this is also receipt against #coronavirus #cure #HealthyLiving #naturalmedicine #medicine #garlic #garlicwater #coronaviruschina #help pic.twitter.com/3A9SsjVJTr
— Bojana Bogojevic 🌍UN Accredited Climate Change T. (@BojanaBogojevic) February 4, 2020
The PIB, in an update issued on social media on Thursday, debunked the claim. "Beware! The boiled Garlic water treatment to cure #Coronavirus is among the many #fakenews circulating on social media regarding Coronavirus. (sic)," read the post on Twitter.
See PIB Fact Check's Tweet
Claim: #coronavirus can be cured by boiled Garlic water.
Reality: Beware! The boiled Garlic water treatment to cure #Coronavirus is among the many #fakenews circulating on social media regarding Coronavirus.#nCoV2020 @MoHFW_INDIA @drharshvardhan pic.twitter.com/fZWYYClejc
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) February 5, 2020
The spread of coronavirus has flooded social media users with fake news. Several fake symptoms and false remedies are being shared on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp, in an apparent bid to fuel anxiety among people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has teamed up with Google to curb the spread of fake news.
Fact check
Coronavirus can be cured by boiled garlic water.
Fake news. PIB has confirmed that boiled garlic water is not a cure for coronavirus.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2020 05:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).