Hello all

There is an interesting story going around at the moment on a killer
virus being spread via mobile phones in Kabul.  It seems to be a version
of Steven King's book CELL.  The interesting thing is that it is a rumor
being spread in a pretty stressed out country where there is also a good
dose of skepticism towards the US, Europe etc.  Regardless of how far
fetched the idea is, the context in which it is being spread perhaps
fosters this kind of thought. 

Rich L. 

A piece form zone-h is as follows:



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.

http://www.zone-h.org/content/view/14714/31/

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"mobile-society" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/mobile-society?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Reply via email to