Friday, April 20, 2007
A Killer mobile phone virus spread panic in Kabul
Written by Alberto Redi (halfmoon)
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Fear is high in Kabul, and it is not only because of war and terrorism: citizens are deadly worried about a biological virus that can be transmitted by mobile phone, Reuters reported today.
Mobile phone users are fearful that a killer virus is spreading via mobile phone calls and, according to rumours there have already been several deaths.
"Don't answer any strange number because it contains a virus that will kill you," said the shop-owner Mr. Ahmad Fawad.
Nobody knows how this news spread out but it rapidly reached any street and alley in kabul, producing so much panic that Afghan Government had to intervene and reassure the public.
This story, which has got all the characteristics of a metropolitan legend, seems to come from Pakistan and in two weeks it swiftly spread throughout a country that is still bearing the effects of a devastating war.
Officials from the Afghan Interior, Communications and Health ministries had to hold a speech on television and appeal for calm, trying to convince people about the impossibility of such a story
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Fear is high in Kabul, and it is not only because of war and terrorism: citizens are deadly worried about a biological virus that can be transmitted by mobile phone, Reuters reported today.
Mobile phone users are fearful that a killer virus is spreading via mobile phone calls and, according to rumours there have already been several deaths.
"Don't answer any strange number because it contains a virus that will kill you," said the shop-owner Mr. Ahmad Fawad.
Nobody knows how this news spread out but it rapidly reached any street and alley in kabul, producing so much panic that Afghan Government had to intervene and reassure the public.
This story, which has got all the characteristics of a metropolitan legend, seems to come from Pakistan and in two weeks it swiftly spread throughout a country that is still bearing the effects of a devastating war.
Officials from the Afghan Interior, Communications and Health ministries had to hold a speech on television and appeal for calm, trying to convince people about the impossibility of such a story
# posted by Unknown : Friday, April 20, 2007
