Mangalore, Aug 20: Health Minister U T Khader, who is an elected representative from the coastal region, has threatened to charge with criminal action against those creating panic in the region by spreading rumours about the outbreak of the deadly viral disease Ebola in Mangalore.
With several health officials expressing concern over the circulation of various unconfirmed reports of the death of a student in Mangalore due to Ebola' virus, through WhatsApp' messaging service and other social media, Mr Khader has threatened to book the pranksters with criminal cases registered suo-moto.
He expressed ire over trouble-mongers using online platforms and social media to create unnecessary panic and apprehension among the public.
Mr Khader is quoted to have said that such pranksters would be severely dealt with. “We have decided to investigate the source of the rumours and take action against those spreading the lies,” he said.
One of the circulating texts on the popular WhatsApp' stated that the Ebola virus had claimed the life of a student studying at National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) located in Suratkal.
The district health officer later clarified that one student from the college named Sreejith had died in the recent past, but he had been suffering from a lung-related ailment and had not been affected by Ebola. “All the messages circulating on social media regarding the outbreak of Ebola in the coastal region are baseless,” he said.
The college management was reportedly considering lodging a formal complaint with the police regarding the circulation of Ebola rumour at the institution.
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