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Bogus health scares on Internet become increasingly common
April 8, 1999 (CNN) -- Have you heard about the cancer-causing shampoo? Or the epidemic of multiple sclerosis and lupus caused by artificial sweetener? Or the kidney thieves who remove organs from people who get drunk at parties? None of these stories are true. But all of these fictitious health threats have been spread over the Internet and through e-mail. "Bad rumors about the danger of consumer products are getting increasingly commonplace, largely because it's so easy to execute," says Eric Dezenhall, a corporate crisis management consultant. "The Internet is anonymous." These rumors are often taken quite seriously. An e-mail claiming that HIV-infected needles were being found in telephone coin returns and movie theaters generated so many inquiries to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the CDC discredited the story on its own Web site. "We have investigated the information, and we know it is not credible information. And I think that's important for people to know," says Dr. Helene Gayle of the CDC. While some of these health scares seem far-fetched, Dezenhall says that "other times, you have an allegation that is so resonant that it's very, very hard to ignore." Take, for instance, the allegation that tampons contain dioxin and asbestos. Procter & Gamble is getting between 200 and 500 e-mails a month from concerned consumers. "I think it needlessly scares women about a product they trusted for many years," said Procter & Gamble spokeswoman Eliane Plummer. "In that respect, I think it's very detrimental." At the same time, however, the Internet can be a useful source of health information. So how does a consumer separate useful information from bogus rumor? Experts say they should look at the source of the report and be skeptical if it is anonymous or posted by an unknown or ambiguous organization. People who still aren't sure should ask their doctor. RELATED STORIES: Health trumps money for Web users RELATED SITES: Centers for Disease Control
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