Contact:
Kathryn Serkes
202.333.3855
kaserkes@worldnet.att.net

6/6/02 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Smallpox vaccine email hoax strikes AAPS doctors

Washington, DC -- Association of American Physicians and Surgeons Public Affairs Counsel, Kathryn Serkes, issued the following statement regarding an email alert on smallpox falsely attributed to AAPS:

“An email warning the public about government ‘fast track’ approval of small pox vaccine circulating around the Internet is falsely credited with originating from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. This is not true.

“The letter claims to be sent from the AAPS ‘media director.’ It accuses the CDC of holding closed meetings on the smallpox vaccine. Further, it states that Gov. Ridge wants to fast track the vaccine. Other items in the alert include an article headlined ‘US Senator Confirms Laboratory Birth of AIDS.’

“Unfortunately, this alert has been taken seriously by many people because they trust in the credibility of AAPS.

“AAPS did not write this release, nor do we endorse or agree with the content. In fact, there is no ‘media director’ at AAPS, and all alerts from AAPS carry the AAPS logo.

“The letter originated with a concerned citizen at sallie8001@ditol.com who sent a copy of the alert to me with a note of greeting that said, ‘Ms Serkes – As media director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, I thought this information would be of interest to you.’

“Apparently, someone either accidentally or intentionally included that greeting in the body of the alert to appear as though it was being sent out by AAPS. It was then forwarded throughout cyberspace.

“AAPS has never accused the CDC of holding closed meetings on smallpox. In fact, on June 5, 2002, we did issue an alert about the CDC public forums, taking most of the copy straight from the CDC web site. There was no mention of ‘secret’ meetings or any allusions to any wrong-doing by the CDC.

“Everyone is vulnerable to the misuse of a name over the Internet, but there is an easy way to check if AAPS is indeed the source of any information. We post all alerts, news releases or statements on the website at www.aasponline. If it’s not there, it didn’t come from us.

“If we’ve been the victims of an intentional hoax, I say ‘Shame on you,’ to the perpetrators. We’ve heard from many people who have been needlessly alarmed by this alert. I hope this help put their fears to rest.”

The June 5 alert from AAPS is posted here.