Headline screenshot Share on Facebook It claims the World Health Organisation (WHO) has told governments to prepare for a “mass lockdown” caused by Mpox.
Verdict: False
The claim is false and originally originated from an article published on August 15 on The People's Voice, a website known for spreading “fake news.” A WHO spokesperson denied the validity of the claim in an email to Check Your Fact.
Fact check:
Congo is set to receive the first doses of the Mpox vaccine to combat the current outbreak. Associated PressThe media outlet reported that while there have been cases of Mpox in more than a dozen African countries, “the vast majority of cases are seen” in Congo.
A screenshot shared of a Facebook post said WHO has ordered governments to prepare for “mass lockdown” due to Mpox. “WHO orders governments to prepare for 'mass lockdown' due to 'deadly monkeypox' strain,” the headline read.
This claim is false and originally August 15 article The article was published on The People's Voice, a website known for spreading “fake news.”terms of service“We make no representations about the suitability, reliability, availability, timeliness, or accuracy of the information, software, products, services, and related graphics contained on this site for any purpose.”
The site, formerly known as NewsPunch and YourNewsWire, has been described as “one of the most well-known purveyors of fake news online.” Mashable articles from 2019. (Related: Does this video show people lining up to be tested for monkeypox in Nebraska?)
The article states that WHO Announced Mpox said the outbreak had been “officially classified as a 'public health emergency of international concern,'” but made no mention of the organization ordering governments to prepare for a “large-scale lockdown.”
Similarly, this claim is supported by the WHO Website Not even verified Social media account. Check Your Fact was not found Trusted news coverage To back up the claim, the opposite is true. August 19th, Top Stories It reported that the allegations were false.
Furthermore, a WHO spokesperson denied the validity of the claim in an email to Check Your Fact.
“These claims are false. WHO cannot and has never ordered governments to prepare for a 'mass lockdown' as per MPOX or any other kind of lockdown. As a scientific and technical organisation, WHO provides technical advice and support to its 194 Member States. Countries have the sovereign right to take decisions and actions concerning the health of their people,” the spokesperson said.
“Given the sudden increase in MPOX in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the increasing number of cases across Africa, the WHO Director-General convened an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to seek advice on whether this outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Dr Tedros accepted the Emergency Committee's advice and declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 14 August 2024, signalling WHO's greatest warning of the deteriorating situation. A coordinated international response is required to contain these outbreaks,” the spokesperson added.
