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A “warning” suggesting avoiding cold beverages like as Maza, Coca-Cola, 7Up, Thums Up, Pepsi, and Sprite due to possible Ebola contamination has been making the rounds on WhatsAap.

The letter also makes the bogus claim that this news was broadcast on NDTV and that the Hyderabad Police have notified the public across India about this purported pollution. These allegations have been flatly refuted by PIB Fact Check, a government program designed to counter false information and fake news, which advises the public to ignore the message and refrain from disseminating false information.

Did you also receive a #WhatsApp forward claiming that the Government of India has advised citizens to avoid cold drinks as they are contaminated with the Ebola virus #PIBFactCheck

Beware! This message is #fake

@MoHFW_INDIA has issued no such advisory! pic.twitter.com/EN0Esyq5cP

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) August 23, 2024

PIB Fact Check confirmed that the post is a fraud and took to X, the platform that was once known as Twitter, to make this clear. The unit stressed that there has been no such warning from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) about cold drinks being infected with the Ebola virus. Did you too get a WhatsApp forward stating that the Indian government has warned people to stay away from cold drinks because they are tainted with the Ebola virus? #PIBFactCheck is the post’s message. Take caution! There has been no such advise from MoHFW_INDIA, hence this message is bogus.

What is the accusation about the phony message?
“Please distribute this information throughout India, Hyderabad Police.” Please refrain from consuming soft drinks like as Maja, Coco Cola, 7up, thumps, Pepsi, Sprite, and so on, since one of the employees may have contaminated them with Ebola blood. Yesterday’s news was covered on the NDTV channel. Would you kindly send this message to everyone? Regards.