The New Jersey Department of Health, as of Aug. 25, is reporting 471 probable and confirmed cases of monkeypox in the Garden State. As the number of cases increase, so does the amount of misinformation being spread about the virus. In fact, officials from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness have issued a warning about a monkeypox disinformation campaign that's being waged on social media sites.

According to Tom Hauck, the director of intelligence and operations for the NJOHSP, a number of wildly inaccurate and potentially dangerous claims about the virus are being circulated, including allegations “that a lab released the virus, in addition to it being a byproduct of the COVID-19 vaccinations.”

More fake claims

Hauck said recently a video titled "They're Lying to You About Monkeypox," was posted on Twitter, which made several false claims about the virus including that the media was intentionally deceiving the gay community and the public.

In another instance, according to Hauck, a Facebook user posted a phony graphic indicating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization had amended their monkeypox guidance.

“The image included false claims such as monkeypox is a form of herpes, and that it travels in the air or it can lead to paralysis.”

Why this is so dangerous?

Hauck said the NJOHSP is working to make sure people know these claims are false.

“Disinformation has the potential to incite panic, create distrust...

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