FACT CHECK: No, Posters Warning Of Various Ailments Were Not Shared At Burning Man

Anna Mock | Fact Check Reporter

A photo shared on Facebook claims posters were shared during Burning Man Festival warning of various symptoms of sickness.

Verdict: False

The graphic was altered from one detailing dengue fever symptoms, which can be found on stock image websites. These are not genuine posters that were given out during the event, a Burning Man spokesperson told Check Your Fact in an email.

Fact Check:

Around 64,000 attendees were trapped at Burning Man this week after heavy rain turned the ground muddy and caused vehicles to get stuck, according to BBC. Stranded attendees were instructed to urinate in bottles to conserve space in porta potties, The Independent reported.

A Facebook image claims to show a poster that was distributed outside campers during Burning Man. The poster includes graphics that depict ailments like skin rashes and vomiting and tells those who are experiencing these symptoms to mark their campers with a white garment.

“DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAMPER FOR ANY REASON UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR HAS BEEN GIVEN,” the alleged post reads.

“Supposedly, these posters are being shared outside of people’s campers at Burning Man,” the caption claims.

No such poster exists, however. The alleged poster cannot be found on Burning Man’s website or its verified social media accounts. Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to verify that these posters were shared. (RELATED: Did Ebola Patients From Burning Man Cause LAX To Be Evacuated?)

“No such posters were shared at Burning Man,” a Burning Man spokesperson told Check Your Fact in an email.

The alleged poster appears to be edited from a graphic of dengue fever symptoms that can be found on stock image websites such as Adobe Stock and Shutterstock. The photo’s lower half showing transmission methods was cropped out.

Anna Mock

Fact Check Reporter

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