Panic over Uganda swine flu hoax

A hoax text message warning people that swine flu had broken out in Uganda has caused panic and confusion this week.

It purported to come from the health ministry, told people not to eat pork and promised free airtime for those who passed the message to 25 other people.

The ministry held a press conference denying the "baseless rumour".

But the BBC's Ignatius Bahizi in the capital, Kampala, says the confusion persisted as the ministry often uses texts to spread its health messages.

The Daily Monitor newspaper reports that the hoax message was even debated in parliament.

Our reporter, who received the text on Tuesday night from a friend, says he took it seriously at first.

"Ministry of Health warning; to avoid swine flu which is suspected to be already in Uganda, you are advised not to eat pork or be near pigs for the time being. The first case reported in Ggaba and Nakulabye. Send this message to 25 people and MTN will reward you with airtime," it said.

The ministry released its statement the next day and stressed that well-prepared pork was safe to eat.

Our reporter says people were surprised it hear the text was a scam.

Only recently a health ministry text message warned people about a polio outbreak and urged people to get immunised.

But correspondents say the scam is now the source of some amusement.

Sub-Saharan Africa's first case of the H1N1 virus was reported in South Africa on Thursday.

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