Top Cardiac surgeons become victims of fake news amidst coronavirus panic

New Delhi: Two of the top-most cardiac surgeons of the country recently became a victim of fake messages that were apparently circulated using their names adding to the coronavirus panic across the country.

While a fake message from cardiac surgeon and Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta Medicity in Gurugram regarding PM Modi declaring an emergency was doing rounds on WhatsApp, a fake audio clip of famous cardiac surgeon and Founder of Narayana Health Dr Devi Shetty on prevention of the deadly virus has gone viral on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram.

A viral message on social media quoted Trehan's office throughout yesterday that pretended to have inside news from what PM Modi was going to announce on his 8 pm national address. The message claimed, "Just got news from Dr. Trehan''s office through the PMO that India is going to declare a National Emergency in a day or two. Keep enough ration, medicins and enough cash. "

Debunking a fake viral message, attributed to eminent heart surgeon Naresh Trehan claiming that national emergency will be declared soon and people must collect cash, food and medicines, the doctor on Thursday clarified it was "absolutely incorrect".

Trehan reacted sharply, saying, "Please disregard this message. This can lead to panic buying, hoarding and stampeding banks. This is not the need of the hour."

"We must stay calm yet vigilant in prevention measures. The nation needs every citizen to behave responsibly and spreading rumours is detrimental in the nation's battle against this disease."

Another message- an audio clip claiming to be by the famous cardiac surgeon and Founder of Narayana Health Dr Devi Shetty talking about prevention of the deadly virus had also gone viral on social media platforms,

In an audio clip, the voice claimed: "Everyone who has the coronavirus or is suspected of it, should not go get it tested. India has 1.4 billion people and the kits we have are less than 150,000 at this point of time."

The audio clip which went viral on social media, has been shared on news platforms and wrongly credited to Dr Shetty.

In a clip, the audio describes the day to-day symptoms a person who has been infected by the virus, inculding fatigue, mild fever, a cough and itchy throat in the initial three days to gastrointestinal issues, like diarrhea or cramps, body pain and continued fever in days four to six or seven.

According to the audio clip, by day eight or nine,"you may notice your symptoms starting to reduce.Someone whose symptoms of fever persist beyond day eight or nine should get themselves tested."

On Twitter, one user posted the audio clip of Dr. Shetty with his image and wrote: "Friends this is very important, please listen to #DrDevishetty from @NarayanaHealth He gives Day-wise symptoms of #coronavirus , Very important for comon people like us ...He is giving proper guidance."

"Thank you Sir Folded hands folded hands. Need of an hour. Please RT and spread this right info, the user wrote.

However, the Narayana Health hospital on Thursday took to Twitter and clarified that this is not Shetty''s voice and it has been wrongly attributed to him.

Replying to a user on Twitter, the hospital wrote: "Please note this audio clip is not of Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman and Founder, Narayana Health. It has been incorrectly attributed to him."

With 181 individuals diagnosed with the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in India, people are rushing to keep themselves protected. Amid the scare are myths, misconceptions and misinformation about the deadly coronavirus.

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