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| - Last Updated on September 4, 2024 by Dr Priyamvada
Quick Take
A social media video shows Donald Trump advising against lockdowns and vaccine mandates in response to the 2024 Mpox outbreak. Our fact check says it’s False.
The Claim
A viral Facebook video claims that former US President Donald Trump is advising against lockdowns and vaccine mandates to combat the 2024 Mpox outbreak. The video suggests that Trump believes these health measures could be used to manipulate the upcoming 2024 US presidential election.
Fact Check
Was Trump really advising against lockdowns amidst Mpox outbreak in the video?
No, Trump was not advising against the lockdowns in the current Mpox outbreak context. The viral video in question is from August 2023, over a year before the current Mpox outbreak. It features Trump speaking about the return of COVID-19 safety measures such as mask mandates, lockdowns, and vaccine requirements due to rising concerns over the spread of new COVID-19 variants like EG.5 (Eris) and BA.2.86 (Pirola). At the time, several institutions across the US reintroduced some of these protective measures to control the spread. Here is a screenshot of the same:
Trump strongly opposed these measures. He further alleged that they were politically motivated and would possibly affect the outcome of the 2024 US election. He emphasised that people should resist any attempts to enforce lockdowns and vaccine mandates. Trump further said that they would take away personal freedoms. At no point in the video does Trump mention Mpox, which is why the claim linking this video to the Mpox outbreak 2024 is false.
Is there any connection between the Mpox outbreak and the 2024 election?
No, there is no factual connection between the Mpox outbreak and the upcoming US election. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency related to Mpox in August 2024. This declaration was mainly in response to a spike in cases across Africa. The timing of the video resurfacing caused some confusion, as it happened when people were already starting to worry about the new Mpox cases. It’s understandable that some might have linked Trump’s comments about COVID-19 restrictions to fears about Mpox, but there’s no connection. Trump did not mention Mpox, and there’s no evidence to suggest that the outbreak has anything to do with election interference. The health emergency was declared for public health reasons, not because of politics.
Why is the video being linked to Mpox now?
The resurfacing of Trump’s video during the 2024 Mpox outbreak has caused some confusion. As the WHO raised concerns over the rising number of Mpox cases worldwide, fears about possible lockdowns or mandates have increased. Countries like Sweden, Pakistan, and the Philippines have reported Mpox cases. As a result, people have shared this old 2023 video out of context. This has sparked concerns about government overreach.
However, Trump’s comments in the video were specifically about COVID-19 variants at the time and have no connection to the Mpox outbreak. Therefore, linking his video to the 2024 Mpox outbreak is misleading.
How serious is the 2024 Mpox outbreak?
The 2024 Mpox outbreak has become a growing concern, particularly in parts of Africa, where over 27,000 cases have been reported and more than 1,100 deaths have occurred, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease has spread to other countries, including Sweden, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Despite this, health officials stress that the risk of a large-scale outbreak in India remains low at this time. Mpox spreads mainly through close contact with infected individuals, their bodily fluids, or contaminated surfaces. Unlike COVID-19, which can spread rapidly through the air, Mpox is not airborne. Infact, Mpox spreads more through direct physical contact which makes it less likely to cause widespread outbreaks.
Governments and health organisations are closely monitoring the situation. Plus, there are public health measures to curb the spread of Mpox infection. But for now, widespread lockdowns or other extreme measures are not required outside of high-risk areas. The focus is on isolating cases and encouraging good hygiene practices to prevent the virus from spreading further.
Are public health measures tied to political agendas?
Not really. Public health measures, such as lockdowns and vaccine mandates, are put in place to limit the spread of diseases and protect populations. Some political figures, including Trump, argue that such measures can be used for political control. But, there is no confirmed evidence to support the claim that health guidelines are manipulated for electoral gain. Sadly, politicisation of public health measures like vaccines, masks and hand hygiene lead to hesitancy among the public. This eventually weakens our efforts to curb any disease, especially in a health emergency scenario.
In the case of Mpox, the focus has been on stopping the spread of the virus, mainly in affected regions. Public health agencies like the WHO and various national governments make decisions on the basis of scientific data and evidence, rather than political motives. In the past, there have been conspiracy theories around Mpox with claims like Mpox is no longer a public health emergency. But, this is not true.
THIP Media Take
The claim that Trump is advising against lockdowns tied to the 2024 Mpox outbreak is false. The video being circulated is from August 2023 and discusses COVID-19, not Mpox. It is important to check the context of such videos before believing or sharing them to prevent the spread of misinformation.
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