False death of an Indian actress - 26th February 2024

An Indian actress is in trouble after an Instagram post reported that she'd died from cervical cancer. This was quickly shared by trusted news sites.

Poonam Pandey had intended her post to raise the profile of cervical cancer, which is responsible for the death of 77,000 women annually in India. In a video a day later, Pandey was pleased that people were talking about the disease.

Cervical cancer's the second most common cancer in women in India. It's a 'silent killer' as few people notice early signs of the illness. However, most cases are caused by the HPV virus (human papillomavirus), which a vaccine can stop.

The Indian government's introducing a new state vaccination programme for girls from 9 to 14 years old. So, there's the suggestion that it had encouraged Pandey's post.

Some people believe that she aimed to increase understanding and save lives. Others saw the post as insensitive. They think that her real goal was increased fame and financial gain.

This isn't the first time Pandey's been in the news. She promised to take off her clothes if India won the 2011 cricket world cup. However, the idea upset many people and she took back this promise.

Journalists are also being blamed for spreading the fake story. They hadn't checked the facts properly before they reported it. And Mumbai based PR company Schbang, which advises Pandey on social media, has had to apologise.

The story led to a rise in Google searches about cervical cancer. However, many are uncertain about Pandey's method.