A message making the rounds on Whatsapp has advised people against the use of paracetamol with P/500 written on it because the drug contains the Machupo virus and anyone who takes it would be infected.

The claim is FALSE

The forwarded message reads,

“Be careful not to take the paracetamol that comes written P-500.  It is a new, very white and shiny paracetamol, doctors advice that it contains “Machupo” virus, considered one of the most dangerous viruses in the world, with a high mortality rate.”

The message also appeared on Facebook.

Several platforms and health organizations, including TheCable and the Malaysian ministry of health, have reported the message to be false as it has been in circulation since 2017.

Paracetamol is a pain reliever usually prescribed to treat mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. The usual dose administered to adults is 500 milligrams or 1 gram.

Machupo is a zoonotic disease also known as black typhus fever. It was first discovered in 1959 in Bolivia, and cases have only been recorded in the South American country.

In 2017, the Malaysian ministry of health said the report is fake and should be disregarded.

Spokesperson of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC), Olusayo Akintola, said such a claim can be disregarded since the post was not buttressed with a “laboratory test” result.

Nonso Odili, A pharmacist and CEO of DrugIT, told TheCable that the message is nothing but fake news which has been debunked several times.

CONCLUSION

The claim that paracetamol P-500 tablets contain Machupo virus is false and has been debunked multiple times.