Potentially deadly rumors suggest COVID vaccines contain Ebola

Misinformation being shared worldwide, including right here in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – If you’ve played the game telephone, you’ve seen just how different the starting message can be from the ending one.  A similar thing is happening with COVID-19.  Small pieces of truth are being spun out of context to create conspiracy theories.

After the Chinese port city of Ningbo-Shoushan shut down on Jan. 3, many people started to speculate why.

One twitter user ‘@onthislasthill’ tweeted, “Rumors of latent Marburg and Ebola cells are said to have been found in the COV vaxxs. Pay attention.”

Official reports said there were a few positive cases of COVID-19, so they closed any areas that were compromised.  They have a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to the virus, which is why such drastic measures were taken.  Ningbo-Shoushan is the third busiest port in the world by container volume.  There is no available information regarding the claim that “latent Marburg and Ebola cells have been found in the COV vaxxs.”

According to the WHO, “Marburg and Ebola viruses are both members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus). Though caused by different viruses, the two diseases are clinically similar. Both diseases are rare and have the capacity to cause outbreaks with high fatality rates.”

There are trials that have been conducted for a vaccine that contain both Marburg and Ebola virus antigens that would protect against both hemorrhagic viruses, according to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance.  It has shown to be affective with Ebola, however, due to the rarity of the Marburg virus, it has not been tested against it yet.

Jason Kindrachuk, PhD, a filovirus expert, responded to ‘@onthislasthill’s’ tweet, “COVID vaccines DO NOT contain cells with latent Ebola virus or Marburg virus -filovirus expert (that also works on persistent infections)”.

Though Kindrachuk tried to stop the spread of the rumor, it had apparently reached many people already including right here in Nebraska.

UNMC Dr. Dustin Krutsinger tweeted “I actually had an extended family member share a video with this claim. So much crazy out there…and it’s often uncomfortably much closer than you think!”

The spread of misinformation related to the COVID-19 vaccine has been causing fear since it was introduced.  It is always best to research rumors regarding the vaccine to find the most accurate information.

 

Categories: Coronavirus, Nebraska News, News, Top Stories, US & World