Claim: To study the role of the spike protein in the severity of COVID-19 illnesses, researchers exposed 10 mice prone to develop severe disease to a hybrid version of the virus. Eight mice died. Social media posts say researchers created a dangerous new variant with an "80 PERCENT Kill Rate," potentially leaving the false impression that this pertains to humans. Also, the hybrid virus used in the study had a lower mortality rate than the original virus had on mice.
Fact-check: Social Media Claims Misrepresent Boston U. Study of What Causes Severity of COVID-19 Strains - FactCheck.org
Verdict: to study the role of the spike protein in the severity of covid-19 illnesses, researchers exposed 10 mice prone to develop severe disease to a hybrid version of the virus. eight mice died. social media posts say researchers created a dangerous new variant with an "80 percent kill rate," potentially leaving the false impression that this pertains to humans. also, the hybrid virus used in the study had a lower mortality rate than the original virus had on mice.
Organisation: FactCheck.org
Author: Saranac Hale Spencer
Date published: 2022-10-21T23:08:44