| Ishan Ibrahim |
THE Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday denied the claims circulating on social media that the first Zika virus case in Brunei Darussalam is being kept secret from the public.
The false report is circulated through a popular social media application,and the MoH maintained that there has been no case of the virus reported in the country.
The MoH has advised the public not to believe any information or news disseminated through the Internet or social media without checking whether the source is credible or not.
The ministry warned that the act of circulating false information to confuse the public is an offence that can be reported under the Public Order Act, Cap 148, Section 34.
It states that whoever, either orally or in writing or in whatever way, spreads false reports or creates false statements that can affect public peace, can be imprisoned for three years and issued a fine of $3,000.
The MoH will continue to monitor and assess the Zika situation with the cooperation of the World Health Organization and partners in Asean.
The MoH advised all relevant parties, including the public, to fully participate in the national efforts to prevent and control the spread of the Zika virus by ensuring the cleanliness of the surroundings and environment.
For further information on the Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, the public can visit the MoH’s website at www.moh.gov.bn or contact its hotline on Darussalam line 123.
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