Hoax: Picture from Ancient Egypt Nothing to Do with COVID-19 Test

Bratislava, January 25 (TASR) - Hundreds of Slovak Facebook-users have shared a hoax post with a picture claiming that slaves in ancient Egypt were punished by having their blood-brain barrier and olfactory nerve damaged with a stick similar to the swab used in COVID-19 tests. These claims are untrue, as although the picture does originate from Egypt, it actually depicts an eye examination, TASR has reported as part of its hoax-debunking campaign in collaboration with AFP press agency on Monday. According to experts, coronavirus swabs are safe and can in no way damage the brain. "In Egypt, such a procedure was considered a punishment and penalty for slaves," reads the post on Facebook dated January 6, 2021. "Today, they call this method a 'COVID test' and they tell you that this is the way to protect you and everyone around you." Originally, the picture was shared on zemavek.sk as a call to schools regarding COVID-19 tests. The same picture and text also appeared on badatel.net. Polish archaeologist Halszka Przychodzenova, who specialises in diseases in ancient Egypt, has spoken to AFP. "More precisely, it's a relief painting from tomb number TT 217 in a worker settlement in Deir el Medina in Egypt. The name of the man buried in the tomb was Ipuy. He was one of the builders of royal tombs in the renowned Valley of the Kings, circa 1279-1213 BC. This certainly isn't any depiction of punishment for slaves," she said. The fresco is also mentioned in an article by the French National Ophthalmologist Association concerning ophthalmology in ancient Egypt. It notes that it's the only extant depiction of a practising ophthalmologist. The untrue statement has also been debunked by the Slovak police, citing infectologist Peter Sabaka. "The nasal mucous membrane is very sensitive, which is why COVID-19 testing is unpleasant, but it's not dangerous and doesn't cause any injury. It's not true that the stick could damage the brain or pituitary gland, as these are located beyond the back wall of the nasopharynx and protected by thick bone," said Sabaka. Similarly, COVID-19 testing cannot damage the blood-brain barrier, which isn't located in the nasopharynx at all but in the brain and so is completely beyond the reach of swab sticks. mf/df