Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Aug 18: A rumour which originated on August 17, claiming that the death of a student of National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Suratkal about three weeks ago had been caused by Ebola virus, had spread like wildfire. The rumour, let loose by some mischievous elements, has been rubbished by Dakshina Kannada district health officer. He said that a student of Ethiopian origin has been pursuing PhD course at NITK, adding that this student has not visited his country since the last two years, adding that health officer of NITK had confirmed this information.
NITK officials have also termed the spread of above rumour as baseless and unfortunate. They feel that this scare has been let lose with the specific aim of defaming this institution of national repute by unscrupulous elements. They stressed that the death of Shrijit from Kadur, a second MTech student at NITK three weeks ago, had been caused by viral fever and lung infection, and not because of Ebola virus as being made out through Whatsapp messages.
A number of people including media persons contacted health officials and NITK personnel after Ebola scare was spread through Whatsapp on Sunday. The health officials immediately contacted NITK officials to make enquiries.
NITK sources said that their institution, which has a national stature, has students from different countries including Sudan, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. They said that the student from Ethiopia mentioned in the above rumour, had visited his native country two years ago, when Ebola virus was unknown. Ebola had acquired the status of epidemic during the last two months, and hence there is no ground to point fingers of suspicion at this Ethiopian student, they said.
The people in general are also getting frustrated at the efforts being made by perverted persons to spread fake photos, project catastrophes that have happened in far off countries as having happened in their neighbourhood, and also using Whatsapp application for slander. All of these come under cyber crimes, and hence, constitute punishable offences.