World Health Organization

Is every disease caused by a lack of iron in the body? No, that's not true: There are many different types of disease, including infectious diseases (like hepatitis and COVID-19), non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease and stroke) and genetic diseases (like cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease), all of which are caused by different factors. The claim appeared in a…

Did a peer-reviewed study find that at least 217,000 Americans have died after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine? No, that's not true: A published study that suggested "the total number of fatalities due to COVID-19 inoculation may be as high as 278,000" has been flagged by the journal's editorial board for making "unsubstantiated" claims and for possibly violating standards of peer…

Did the U.S. government say that 5G causes COVID-19? No, that's not true: The study cited by the article making the claim was retracted several years earlier. The Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents made the retraction following "a thorough investigation ... as it showed evidence of substantial manipulation of the peer review." The claim appeared in an article…

Does regularly consuming a cup of java or eating french fries increase the odds of developing cancer, thanks to the chemical acrylamide in the brew? No, that's not true: Acrylamide was first discovered in some cooked foods in 2002 and studies to this point have found no link between acrylamide and cancer, the National Cancer Institute reports. Medical experts have…

Is fluoride a toxic chemical that is neither safe or effective at preventing tooth decay? No, that's not true: In the right concentrations fluoride is a safe and effective tool for preventing tooth decay, although overexposure to high levels of the mineral has been linked to some health issues, according to U.S. health agencies. Fluoride in U.S. public water systems…

Did a medical expert named Dr. Derek Knauss (or Knaus) prove that 1,500 COVID-19 diagnostic tests did not actually contain traces of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but did test positive for influenza A and B? No, that's not true: Lead Stories found no evidence that any such research has taken place or been published in a reputable scientific journal. Extensive searches…

Is the World Health Organization (WHO) compelling member states, through an amendment to its International Health Regulations, to abandon "the dignity of human beings, the human rights of human beings and fundamental freedoms"? No, that's not true: The video making this claim misrepresented the purpose of the cited WHO document and disregarded the fact that the proposed amendments to the…

Did the end of the use of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), not the polio vaccine, cause the sharp drop in polio cases? No, that's not true: Polio is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus -- not DDT. Thanks to the vaccine, cases have dropped by 99 percent, according to health and medical experts. The claim appeared in an Instagram post on…

Did President Joe Biden just form a "union" with Mexico and Canada that ended U.S. sovereignty? No, that's not true: The claim misconstrues the Declaration of North America, a trilateral partnership aimed at addressing major regional issues like security, sustainability and inclusiveness. The declaration says nothing about sovereignty and does not "give away American interests." The claim appeared in a…

Was Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), hospitalized after a bad reaction to a vaccine and does that mean he will not be speaking at the World Economic Forum event in Davos, Switzerland, in mid-January 2023? No, that's not true: The site putting out the story has a disclaimer that says it publishes…