Fiji’s Ministry of Education has issued a warning to the public regarding false information being circulated online about alleged school closures due to a monkeypox outbreak.
A fake website, posing as the “Fiji Ministry of Education,” falsely claims that all schools across the country will be closed from Wednesday, 18 September, until Monday, 6 October 2024, due to an outbreak of monkeypox, supposedly involving 35 new cases.
In an official statement, the Ministry clarified that “this information is completely false.”
They reassured parents, students, and teachers that “all schools remain open and operating as usual, and there are no plans for any closures.”
The Ministry of Health & Medical Services gas also confirmed that there are “no cases of monkeypox in Fiji” and that “no directives for school closures or curfews have been issued.”
The Ministry of Education also warned that sharing false information is illegal, stating that “false news like this causes unnecessary worry and disrupts daily life and education.”
They further cautioned that those responsible for spreading fake news “will face action.”
