‘Miracle cures’ for cancer, presidential clones and giant Dead Sea snakes

A weekly roundup of bogus reports and phony facts in the mainstream and social media.

The Saudi Health Ministry has denied in a press statement social media reports claiming that a new drug recently approved in the US treats all types of cancerous tumors.

Vitrakvi, known generically as larotrectinib, was released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently as a new cancer drug that targets not by tumor type, but rather by the genetic mutation.

The drug only targets a specific rare mutation found in some cancers.

The ministry corrected the information being circulated online, saying that the drug does not completely treat cancer or even cure it completely, as claimed, but aims to control its growth and spread as long as possible. It added that the drug is not a substitute for surgical and chemical treatment.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, below, has denied claims that he died and was replaced by a clone, calling the speculation “ignorant rumors.” The rumor has been circulated on social media for months, while videos making the claim have been viewed thousands of times on YouTube and Facebook.

Buhari tweeted on Sunday that he addressed the reports while at a meeting in Poland.

Jordanian newspaper Al-Dostour has detected a number of rumors that had been doing the rounds on social media in November. Among them was a video of a giant snake claimed to be living in the Dead Sea. The video footage was reportedly on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp, showing a giant snake claimed to be in the Dead Sea

waters.