Don't Fall For The Latest Zika Virus Conspiracy Theory

While it may not be the most widespread Zika conspiracy theory on the internet, it's certainly among the weirdest.  The fact-checking website Snopes revealed last Wednesday that at least a few people falsely believe Americans are immune to Zika virus, as these tweets demonstrate: @SpeakerRyan @WashTimes Say NO to more Obama requested FAKE #Zika virus funding. American immune systems are immune to it. Virus isn't new— Chad (@FlyOSUBuckeye1) May 22, 2016 @ABC dont spread propaganda about a non-existent threat to Americans Fake Zika war is a terrorist tactice— Barbara Adams (@SheSellsBoise) May 26, 2016 Such claims are completely unfounded, according to Derek Gatherer, a lecturer at Lancaster University in the U.K. who studies virus genetics. Asked if there is any scientific evidence that Americans might be immune to Zika virus, he replied, "None whatsoever." But Zika conspiracy theorist Chad, above, is right about one thing: The virus isn't new. It was discovered in rhesus monkeys in the Ugandan forest in 1947, and is common in Africa and Asia. And some people do have Zika antibodies that indicate they're likely immune to the virus -- they just aren't Americans. “If people haven’t been immunized or vaccinated against Zika but they have antibodies to Zika, it means that the virus must have gotten into them at one time or another in their lives,” Ahmed Kalebi, CEO of Lancet Laboratories in East Africa, tol...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news