Ebola fears among the general population the world over is on the rise, especially after a recent WHO report found that there could be as many as 10,000 cases of Ebola virus every week - by the end of this December - if some drastic measure to contain the situation is not taken.
The fear-mongering has led to several wild speculations, with many conspiracy theories spreading misinformation on Ebola.
Ebola virus has killed 4,447 people so far, and has also made its way into the United States. The disease, dubbed as "the new Aids", kills 70% of the people infected by the virus.
With the increasing fear, there are several conspiracy theories doing the rounds. From blaming the Red Cross to US President Barack Obama, wild theories are gripping people, especially in the West African countries where the disease seems to be spreading uncontrollably.
1) Ebola a Hoax Created by Red Cross
The most recent conspiracy theory, which has caught the attention of the general population in West Africa, is the claim that 'Ebola is a hoax created by Red Cross'.
The conspiracy theory, published in The Event Chronicle, states that the virus does not exist and the US is lying.
The report blames the Red Cross for conspiring along with the United States to steal oil and diamond wealth. It says only those who receive treatments and injections from the Red Cross are getting the disease.
It even goes on to claim it is because of this reason that Liberia and Nigeria kicked the Red Cross out of their countries.
2) Ebola a CDC Cover-up for MMR Vaccine Causing Autism
Another conspiracy theory, which is doing the rounds in the United States, is that the whole Ebola scare is a CDC cover-up over its MMR vaccine, which causes autism.
A report by Child Health Safety notes: "How is it we suddenly have an Ebola "outbreak" and it is coming to the USA too?"
The report suggests that the CDC knew that the MMR vaccine causes autism. And just when a senior CDC official was about to blow the whistle on the whole thing, the Ebola outbreak was announced in the US suddenly; and thereby the whole coverage to the MMR autism issue was suppressed.
The MMR vaccine is an immunisation vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella (also called German measles).
3) 'Ebola-Chan' Conspiracy Meme
Criticised as a 'tasteless and horrifying' meme, the Ebola-Chan conspiracy meme has become an internet sensation of sorts, sparking widespread hoaxes on Ebola.
The internet meme, mocking the disease that has killed more than 4,000 people in West Africa, was first released on 4chan.
Ebola-Chan is billed as a virus-anime-goddess of sorts. Dressed in a white nurse's uniform, the pink-haired character's acts are said to be a cross between a fairy and the Grim Reaper who brings Ebola and the eventual death. As per the threats posted on the site, 4chan users are expected to respond to the Ebola-Chan with glory and praise, like: "I love you, Ebola-Chan! Thank you!"
The distasteful fan art, which started in August, soon made its way into the African countries, where it has now grown into a full-fledged conspiracy theory.
The Ebola-Chan hoax, widely shared in Nigeria, states: "They hate Africans and worship an ebola demoness who they call 'Ebola-Chan'. They perform magical rituals in order to spread the disease and kill people. They target the area they want to infect next using blood sacrifices"
Apparently some doctors are also part of the cult and, instead of treating the disease, they are deliberately spreading it.
4) Ebola a Bio Terrorism Weapon
Spreading the seeds of mistrust, Daily Observer, a major Liberian newspaper, caried an article by a Liberia-born faculty member of a US university, implying that the Ebola epidemic is the result of bioterrorism experiments, conducted by the United States Department of Defense.
A Washington Post report, analysing the piece, noted that while some commenting on the article were critical, the number of people who praised it was telling. "They are using" Ebola, wrote one, "for culling the world population mainly Africa for the... purpose of gaining control of the Africans resources criminally."
5) Ebola? It's Population Control': R&B Singer Chris Brown
R&B singer Chris Brown recently raked up controversy, by claiming that the Ebola virus is a "form of population control".
Brown, in a tweet, wrote: "I don't know... But I think this Ebola epidemic is a form of population control. S*** is getting crazy bruh."
However, the singer was soon on the receiving end, with his 13.6 million followers ridiculing him for the comment. He later backtracked and said: "Let me shut my black a** up!" However, his first post received over 10,000 retweets and still appears on the singer's page.
