Croatia has been affected by African swine fever (ASF) since 2023, with hundreds of cases confirmed in wild boars. To control the outbreak, the government announced a series of measures in October 2025 including culling, restrictions on animal movement and the establishment of biosecurity zones. Social media users responded by falsely claiming that there were no infected wild boars in Croatia and that the measures lack scientific and legal justification. However, experts and international organisations have confirmed the presence of ASF in Croatia, and AFP found that the measures are in line with European regulations and backed by science.
Health
As North America’s flu season ramps up, social media influencers are claiming baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, will help people combat the virus. But experts told AFP there is no evidence drinking the compound diluted in water will combat influenza, recommending vaccination and frequent hand washing as the best preventative measures available.
Scientists do not fully understand what causes the chronic neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer’s, but they are examining a combination of genetic, health and lifestyle factors. On social media, false claims blaming statins — medicines that help lower cholesterol levels — are spreading despite research showing that a sustained reduction in “bad” cholesterol can actually help lower the risk of dementia.
In September 2025, the Russian Federal Medical and Biological Agency announced that its mRNA-based vaccine Enteromix had passed preclinical trials with promising results. Following this announcement, posts spread on social media in Africa claiming Enteromix was a “cure” for cancer. The posts also claimed the vaccine was ready for general use and would be available for free. However, oncology vaccine specialists poured cold water on the claims, saying reliable clinical evidence for Enteromix is not yet available. The Russian agency itself stated the vaccine is awaiting approval for the next stage.
US President Donald Trump falsely claimed Amish people living in the United States “have essentially no autism” during a White House announcement billed as offering findings on causes and treatments for the neurological and developmental disorder. Experts said he is misguided; autism does exist in the traditionalist Christian communities, which are known for rejecting modern technologies.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made several false or misleading claims as US lawmakers grilled him over his decisions to fire scientists and overhaul the nation’s vaccine policies during three hours of testimony before the Senate Finance Committee.
“The Media laughed and said Ivermectin was ONLY for horses and cows? THEY KNEW it was made for people since 1987,” begins a May 7, 2025 Facebook post.
“BREAKING NEWS: TRUMP STRIKES BACK — DEATH PENALTY FOR mRNA CRIMES NOW ON THE TABLE”, reads the headline of a lengthy Facebook post published on February 26, 2025.
“RFK Jr. is correct about Lyme disease being created as a bioweapon in a lab on Plum Island, just off Connecticut’s coast,” says a January 29, 2025 X post from an account called “Shadow of Ezra,” which AFP previously fact-checked.
“In case you didn’t know, fluoride has been directly linked to many different neurological issues so the fact that the Trump administration is going to remove fluoride from our water supply is a massive deal,” says the speaker in a November 5, 2024 Instagram video.