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True news - The journalist who made the decision: S25_gr02
Fact checking Report- News: West Nile virus detected in UK mosquitoes for first time (West Nile virus detected in UK mosquitoes for first time)
- Rating: True News
- Revaluation:
- Faithfulness to facts - News was published on the official BBC website, which is considered a reliable source of information and they are based on official sources. Information about the virus was confirmed by an announcement made by both UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) which are other trustworthy sources. Both organisations made a statement about the discovery
- Timeliness - UKHSA published the facts about the discovery on May 25. Article was published on the same day so that means it is related to the recent news and is current.
- Reliability - article provides specific information about a discovery. BBC informed that APHA scientists indeed tested 200 pools of mosquitos (10 mosquitos from each pool) and 198 were tested negative and only 2 tested positive. HoweverBBC didn’t mention that another research was made, testing further 30,000 mosquitoes and 300 birds from other areas in England most suitable for West Nile virus. This time all samples from 2023 and 2024 were negative.
- Clarity and precision of expression - Article is short, precise and clear. It provides readers with specific information about the research like numbers, facts about the virus and sources of their information.
- Proximity to the scene - Poland is not that close to the UK, yet article mentions that the cases of WEst Nile virus were also found in Africa, South America and mainland Europe.
- Significance - The information is important for people in the UK considering that at this time of year a lot of people will travel abroad and rest near water sources like lakes, where a lot of mosquitoes exist and multiply.
- Continuity - It’s not easy to predict if or how fast the virus is gonna spread. Professor James Logan informs that there is no need to be alarmed, but says that it's serious information. People should recognise that the UK is no longer immune to tropical diseases.
- Personalization - BBC did not personalize the article, they only used facts about the research, virus and comments from involved scientists.
- Tragedism - There is no tragedism in the article. It’s strictly informative and they calm readers that there is no need to feel alarmed right now, yet the advise them to be careful and be aware of the places with a lot of mosquitoes. Drama and action - there is no drama or action in the article. It’s strictly informative.
