Monkeypox or monkeypox is starting to cause anxiety in several countries. Conspiracy theories are also spreading in cyberspace, as usual without valid evidence. Here are some strange conspiracy theories about monkeypox that we quoted from the Independent, Wednesday (25/5/2022):
1. The monkeypox outbreak is linked to the Corona vaccine
One theory is that the Corona vaccine is directly linked to the monkeypox outbreak. It is claimed that the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines in particular, which use an adenovirus vector that normally causes flu in chimpanzees, are to blame.
However, the adenovirus vector is harmless, has been weakened, and has been genetically modified so that it does not cause disease in humans. In fact, even monkeys are not a natural source of monkeypox. According to Dr Michael Skinner, a virologist at Imperial College, monkeypix is a disease of small animals in Africa, including rodents.
2. Bill Gates is the mastermind behind monkey pox
Bill Gates' name has been mentioned again by conspiracy theorists that he may be the mastermind behind the monkeypox outbreak. The same thing happened when he was accused of causing the Corona virus.
Moreover, Bill Gates several times predicted that the world would face a dangerous pandemic. But such predictions are based on science and there is absolutely no evidence Bill Gates wants to spread the plague.
3. The United States behind monkeypox
Similar to the conspiracy theory that the Corona virus was created intentionally in a laboratory, the theory that the United States deliberately released the monkeypox virus spread on social media.
It was also mentioned that in 2021, the US was preparing a scenario in case of a monkeypox pandemic. However, this is nothing special. Countries always make early preparations in case of an outbreak, although often the execution does not go smoothly if it does occur.
4. The United States is already preparing its vaccine
Another conspiracy theory is that the United States already has a large number of smallpox vaccines, which can be used against monkeypox. It is said that they have 100 million doses of the smallpox vaccine.
Indeed, the US keeps the smallpox vaccine in the Strategic National Stockpile, but as a preparation in case of a biological terrorism attack. So, the vaccine was deliberately stored in case of a health emergency.
5. Practice at the Munich Security Conferences
It was reported that last year, world leaders met in Munich to plan a response in the event of a monkeypox outbreak. It is true that there will be a meeting in 2021 at the Munich Security Conference to discuss anticipation in case of a biological threat.
It is also true that at that time there was also a discussion about the possibility of the spread of monkeypox, but this was considered normal regarding the emergence of the corona virus, so that other types of outbreaks could not be ignored.