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On social networks, fake news abounds. The latest? Bill Gates’ vaccines would spread polio throughout Africa. A dangerous rumor, yet relayed more than 2,500 times on Twitter and Telegram.
The post went viral within days. On social networks, many Internet users firmly believe in it: Bill Gates’ vaccines are currently spreading polio throughout Africa. And the United Nations would have been obliged “to admit it”.
A misleading claim
The rumor started from a simple humorous note, from the blog “La page gaulliste de réinformation”.
In this article, we can read that “The WHO openly admits that the currently circulating strain of poliovirus, known as cVDPV2, is ‘vaccine-derived’. This clearly indicates that it is spread by the same vaccines that Bill Gates says help ‘save lives’ and ‘eradicate polio’“.
A misleading allegation, which echoes previous blog posts – already erroneous.
Indeed, if, in very rare cases, polioviruses are linked to a strain derived from the vaccine – such as the “Sabin” strain detected in recent months – this phenomenon only occurs if the population is not sufficiently vaccinated, such as the explains the WHO.
“In rare cases, when replicating in the gastrointestinal tract, OPV strains undergo genetic changes and can spread to communities that are not fully vaccinated against poliomyelitis, especially in areas where the hygiene and sanitation are poor, or in crowded areas“, details the organization, before adding “The lower the immunity of the population, the longer this virus survives and the more genetic changes it undergoes“.
Also according to the WHO, only one infection in 200 leads to “irreversible paralysis” and 5 to 10% of individuals with paralytic poliomyelitis die from paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
For all these reasons, experts point out that it is extremely important to be vaccinated against this highly infectious viral disease.