We came across several posts on X claiming that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has admitted that there is no evidence that the monkeypox (Mpox) virus exists.
These posts cite an article by Slay News which claims that in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by Christine Massey, an alleged investigative reporter, the FDA stated it has “no records” that scientifically prove the existence of Mpox. This admission is presented as contradicting the FDA’s approval of vaccines and diagnostic tools for Mpox.
Slay News, which describes itself as “an independent media outlet providing truthful reporting and the free and open exchange of ideas” has previously been fact-checked for publishing inaccurate or misleading information.
What is FOIA?
The FOIA in the U.S. allows the public to request access to federal government records. FOIA helps ensure government accountability, and agencies must provide requested information unless it falls under one of nine exemptions, such as national security or personal privacy.
While many Western countries have similar laws promoting transparency and accountability, these systems are vulnerable to misuse. Individuals or organisations may manipulate or misrepresent the information they obtain, creating misleading narratives that erode public trust. Additionally, excessive requests can overwhelm agencies, disrupting their operations and hindering their ability to function effectively. For instance, election workers have been inundated by FOIA requests aimed at undermining the results of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, years after it concluded.
Similarly, virus sceptics may weaponise FOIA by requesting government data about virus existence, then misinterpreting the lack of specific records – such as lack of direct virus samples – as evidence that the virus does not exist. This misuse occurs because FOIA requests might not retrieve certain types of scientific information, which can then be misframed as a “lack of evidence” of the virus’ existence.
Who is Christine Massey?
Christine Massey is a self-described whistleblower and biostatistician known for her controversial views on virology. She claims that no governmental or health agency has provided proof that viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (the strain of virus that causes COVID-19) or Mpox have been isolated or proven to exist.
Through her platform on Substack and various interviews, Massey positions this supposed lack of evidence as part of a broader deception in the field of virology. She states that she has submitted 224 FOIA requests globally, claiming that none provided definitive scientific evidence supporting the existence of these viruses.
Is the FDA’s admission concerning?
The FDA is a government agency responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs, vaccines, and medical devices used by the public. They review scientific data to approve these products and monitor them to ensure they remain safe once available to the public.
In response to Massey’s request for studies proving the existence of the monkeypox virus, the FDA stated that it “does not regulate or treat viruses” and is instead responsible for ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs, biological products, and medical devices. Therefore, they had “no responsive records.”
This response reflects the FDA’s regulatory role, not a denial of the virus’ existence. The agency oversees the approval of medical products. Therefore, the lack of such documents only highlights the FDA’s focus on testing and approving treatments, and vaccines, rather than conducting virus isolation research. The FDA did not state that there is no scientific evidence of the Mpox virus.
Moreover, the development of Mpox has been well-documented since its discovery in 1958 during outbreaks in laboratory monkeys, with the first human case reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970. Over the decades, Mpox primarily affected Central and West Africa, with limited cases reported outside these regions until significant outbreaks raised global awareness.
The most notable recent outbreak began in 2022, and earlier this year, cases surged in multiple countries outside Africa, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August 2024.
Therefore, the claim that the FDA has admitted that there is zero scientific evidence that the monkeypox virus exists is false and misrepresents the agency’s response.