A website named Viral.Ninja posted that there are '18 cases of Ebola Virus confirmed in Quezon City,' quoting a certain Gemma Sheridan of DOH confirming the report. Netizens quickly picked it up and shared it in Facebook and Twitter.
Later, the website then changed it to '11 cases of Ebola virus have been confirmed in Bacolod City.'
DOH quickly labeled it as a hoax in a press release posted in their official Facebook page. Here's the full statement:
STATEMENT ON CIRCULATING NEWS IN SOCIAL MEDIA ON ALLEGED CASES OF EBOLA FOUND IN THE PHILIPPINES
6 November 2014
The Department of Health (DOH) denies the rumors on alleged “18 cases of Ebola Virus confirmed in Quezon City” that is being circulated in the social media. There is no DOH employee named Gemma Sheridan.
There is NO TRUTH to this report. NO CASE of Ebola has entered the Philippines. The website where the online report was published - Viral Ninja (safeurlpath.com), is a HOAX.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Ebola consistently monitors the reported cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in all the affected Western African countries; regularly meets and share updates on developments of EVD; and, is constantly on alert in all our ports and airports to prevent entry of any suspected case of Ebola.
We appeal to the public not to spread unconfirmed and baseless reports. Sowing panic and fear will only put lives in danger. For correct information about ebola, please visit the DOH official Facebook page – Department of Health (Philippines) and website – www.doh.gov.ph.
Apparently, the fake report was posted to gain web traffic and earn from advertisements on the site.
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