An image shared on Facebook allegedly shows an article from the Irish Independent with a headline stating Ireland is “suffering from asymptomatic global warming.”
Verdict: False
The photo is digitally fabricated. No such article can be found on the Irish Independent’s website or verified Facebook account.
Fact Check:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that cases of dengue fever could reach record highs this year due to global warming attracting the mosquitos that spread the disease, according to Reuters. Its spread is increasing worldwide, with reported cases having increase eight-fold since 2000 to a total of 4.2 million in 2022, Fox News reported.
A Facebook post purports the Irish Independent reported that the country is facing “asymptomatic global warming.” The post shares a supposed image of the alleged July 20 article on the outlet’s website.
“Climate crisis explainer: Why is July so cold while everywhere else on the planet is burning?” the alleged headline reads. “Prof. Luke O’Neill says Ireland is suffering from asymptomatic global warming.”
The photo is digitally fabricated, however. A search for the headline on the Irish Independent website yields no results. Likewise, it can’t be found on the publication’s verified Facebook account. (RELATED: Did The Irish Independent Publish This Article About A Dying Man’s Last Words?)
The alleged headline cites Professor Luke O’Neill, who teaches biochemistry at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Check Your Fact could not find any statements on the matter from O’Neill in a Google search, however.
Check Your Fact has reached out to the Irish Independent and O’Neill for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.