...that was part of an email (I added the picture and the headline) passed to us via a listserv member from HUM TV in Pakistan (full email below - "your emails"). How credible is this story? How can you check?
In addition to applying basic journalistic critical thinking techniques, try this trick: cut and paste a phrase from the story into your favourite search engine - in this case I used Google and pasted in "boy, had eaten pineapple and fell sick 15 days later" - and click search. In this case, I came up with a hoax information website telling me all about this type of email myth complete with links to credible sources for verification.
It is surprising how quick people are to believe and, in turn, pass on such ridiculous, and harmful, information, overlooking obvious signs of misinformation. The boy "fell sick" 15 days after allegedly contracting the HIV virus? Doesn't it take longer for the HIV virus to be detected in your system let alone develop into diseases associated with HIV infection?
Sorry to hear that some of our listserv colleagues in the Gambia were fired (and, thankfully, reinstated) accused of writing a story attempting to question Gambian President Jammeh's ability to cure HIV/AIDS, and asthma.
According to IFEX news the offending journalist's wrote that "93 asthmatic patients treated by President Jammeh recently have recovered". But the management said it should have been written that, "93 of the patients have called to say they have recovered"
What??!!
Now I wonder what would have happened if they had written:
"...and in other news... Former wrestler, President Jammeh, known affectionately as "the quack", is showing further signs of mental instability, as he continues to put the lives of his fellow citizens in danger. This time he claims that he can cure HIV/AIDS and recommends that his "patients" stop taking any other medication including anti-retrovirals. Our health minister, who will be fired if she does not praise his work, praises his work."
Perhaps I'm editorialising too much? For a more in-depth examination of this issue read:
The Gambia in the Hands of Jammeh, by Alagi Yorro Jallow
Thanks again for your emails.
Colin Lloyd
Health and Media listserv editor/moderator
Cape Town, South Africa
www.healthandmedia.org
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1. Your emails
Nayyer Rubab, HUM TV, Pakistan
Below is the email I had received from one of my friends What are the possibilities? There are so many loop holes? This is circulating in different countries:
A 10 year old boy, had eaten pineapple about and fell sick 15 days later. When he had his health check done... doctors diagnosed that he had AIDS. His parents couldn't believe it. Then the entire family under went a check-up. none of them suffered from Aids. So the doctors checked again with the boy if he had eaten out... The boy said "yes". He had pineapple at road side fruit vendor. Immediately a group from Malaya Hospital went to the pineapple vendor to check. They found the pineapple seller had a cut on his finger while cutting the pineapple, his blood had spread into the fruit. When they had his blood checked...the guy was suffering from AIDS... but he himself was NOT aware. Unfortunately the boy is suffering from AIDS now. Please take care while you eat on the road side. Please forward this mail to your dear ones.
Monica Mmanga, Malawi Broadcasting Corp.
I would like to share with you some of the health issues that I have covered in the last few weeks.
On the 24th of March Malawi joined the rest of the international community in observing World TB Day under the them of of "TB Anywhere is TB everywhere". As part of the activities commemorating this day Malawi declared TB as health emergency. I produced a series of Radio programmes sensitizing people on the importance of early diagnosis. I was also a member of the broadcast team and was involved in 'live' productions on the Radio as the floats moved from Lilongwe to the Northern town of Karonga where the main event took place. On the 30th March, the Malawi Government launched its "national roadmap" to combat maternal and infant deaths. Malawi has one of the highest maternal mortality rates at 984 per 100,000 births. Every day 16 Malawian women die due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth.Malawi is among the first African countries to launch the roadmap. Other countries in the Region that have also launched the roadmap are Lesotho and Tanzania. Mozambique and Zimbabwe are expected to launch theirs in June and July later in the year.
2. Health News
Lack of AIDS mention at M.O.H. conference
The African Union (AU) Conference of Health Ministers concluded on Friday with the adoption of an eight-year health strategy for the continent that pointedly avoids singling out HIV/AIDS from Africa's general disease burden. more
Two More Bird Flu Deaths in Asia
Teenage girls in Cambodia and Indonesia have died of bird flu as the virus continues to stalk across Asia, the region hardest-hit since the disease emerged in 2003, health officials said Friday. more
An Army of Housewives Battles TB In Bangladesh
In the golden haze of dawn, Mohammed Salim Sheikh walked slowly through the paddies, so frail and thin that the lungi wrapped around his waist looked like a clown's oversize trousers. more
World Health Day to Meet Global Challenges
The theme for this year's World Health Day, "Invest in Health, Build a Safer Future", highlights the challenging and increasing global threats to health including SARS, avian flu, tuberculosis, HIV and Aids and humanitarian emergencies. more
Bird Flu May Spread
The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu may spread from Indonesia, Egypt and Nigeria to other countries as it continues to circulate in Africa and Asia, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday. more
WHO Warns of Global Threats to Health Security Experts marking World Health Day in Singapore on Monday called for greater cooperation and worldwide collaboration in the face of international threats to health security. more
Urgent Need to Reach HIV-infected Children
There is an urgent need to treat millions of HIV-infected children in poor areas of the world by developing drugs that are easier to administer and improving medical training, the American Academy of Pediatrics said on Monday. more
Latest World Health Headlines
Latest HIV/AIDS Headlines
Latest Malaria Headlines
Latest News from World Health Organisation
3. Opportunities
Scholarships: regional AIDS conference
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Members of the Asia-Pacific media with an interest in regional HIV/AIDS coverage are invited to attend a major conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from August 19 to 23. Scholarships are available to cover related costs; the application deadline for scholarships has been extended to April 20.
For more information, contact media@icaap8.lk
visit http://www.icaap8.lk
Knight International Journalism Awards
The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) seeks nominations for the 2007 Knight International Journalism Awards. The awards honor the struggle for independent, high-quality journalism that makes a difference in communities around the world. These prestigious awards provide international support that enables winners to continue their work. Award winners will receive a trip to the United States and a US$1,000 cash prize presented during ICFJ's Excellence in International Journalism Awards dinner on November 13, 2007. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 4, 2007. Nominations may be submitted on our website, or send to:
Knight International Journalism Fellowships Program International Center for Journalists,
Attn: Lanaea Parker 1616 H St. N.W., 3rd Floor Washington D.C. 20006 USA Tel: (+1) 202-737-3700, Fax: (+1) 202-737-0530
E-mail: nominations@icfj.org
4. Resources
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
This organisation is a regional independent, non-profit non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Accra, Ghana that is concerned with media rights and freedom of expression. MFWA's purpose is to support the development of independent mass media in West Africa, as well as to use networking to foster collaboration with other sectors of society around the issues of human rights, democracy, peace, security, and development. more details
WHO media contacts
Broadcast media
Chris Black - email: blackc@who.int
Avian influenza
Dick Thompson - thompsond@who.int
Radio interviews - ISDN audio lines
The World Health Organization has a radio studio equipped with ISDN capability. Radio broadcasters can connect to the studio to record interviews on WHO related matters.
The cost of the ISDN call is the responsibility of the broadcaster and not WHO.
To reserve
Tel: +41 22 791 39 24
Tel: +41 79 475 55 15
Fax: +41 22 791 42 99
e-mail: tvstudio@who.int
TV interviews - broadcast audio/video link
The World Health Organization Television studio is connected via a fibre optical link with the European Broadcast Union in Geneva, Switzerland (EBU) and can broadcast audio/video feed for TV interviews, both live or recorded.
To reserve
Tel: +41.22.791.39.24
Tel: +41 79 475 55 15
Fax: +41.22.791.42.99
e-mail: tvstudio@who.int
5. Announcements
Non-profit newsletter seeks articles on health and communications
A biannual newsletter seeks contributions from writers interested in health and development issues in Africa. The AfriComNet newsletter aims to promote health, wellness, awareness, and communication in African developing communities. It serves as an exchange of ideas and information, a platform for dialogue, and a channel for announcing relevant programs and events. The newsletter is published by the African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development, a network of governmental, non-profit, faith-based, and educational organizations. Submission deadline: April 30.
For more information or to submit an article, visit http://www.africomnet.org/about/call.php
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Panos 
