Real news: The plethora of fake news stories online has prompted the Malaysian Health Ministry to issue a tweet explicitly denying that sufferers display ‘zombie-like’ behaviour. — Twitter/@KKMPutrajaya
I HAVE news for you. But sit down first. I don’t want you to faint. There are arguably “two” corona-viruses out there. Two, not one. And the second can turn adults into idiots – let’s call it the “moron strain”.
But first, the flu itself, ie, the “novel coronavirus”, which emanated from Wuhan in China and is fatal for some – just over 2% of those infected at the time of writing. As far as I can understand, the symptoms are like those of a normal flu: fever, coughs and shortness of breath. But in the worst-case scenario, it can lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress.
Conversely, what I call the “moron strain” has created a global, social media-driven panic that is in turn feeding on itself. Basically, it’s as if a million smartphone-wielding zombies are infecting scores more every nanosecond.
Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.
'Moron strain'
Real news: The plethora of fake news stories online has prompted the Malaysian Health Ministry to issue a tweet explicitly denying that sufferers display ‘zombie-like’ behaviour. — Twitter/@KKMPutrajaya
Buddhist worshippers wearing protective masks attend prayers at Wat Dhammakaya Buddhist temple in Bangkok. On Jan 31, the World Health Organisation officially declared the Wuhan flu as a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)'. — AFP
Medical personnel attending to a person suspected of having the novel coronavirus in Wuhan. The virus has infected 11,949 people across the globe and claimed the lives of 259 at press time. — AFP
The novel coronavirus – officially, 2019-nCoV – shares 87% of its genetic sequence with two coronaviruses found in bats. However, 2019-nCoV’s origins have yet to be confirmed. — Zhu et al/New England Journal of Medicine/Massachusetts Medical Society
In an effort to combat fake news, many South-East Asian governments have sites like this Philippine Department of Health website urging citizens to get information only from official government channels.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha visiting a patient screening point at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. At press time, Thailand had 19 confirmed cases, the second-highest in the world after China. — AP
