Published 19:57 IST, August 26th 2020

Fact check: Were Bill Gates and Dr. Anthony Fauci roommates in college?

Fact check: A viral message on social media was claiming that Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates were roommates in college, but it has been proven false

Reported by: Amir Khollam
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Origin

ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of hoaxes which often do t hold any connection with reality. One of most common connection conspiracy orists draw on internet surrounding pandemic is that Microsoft's co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates is reason behind it. Though re is evidence that can support claim that Gates is responsible for pandemic, conspiracy enthusiasts think opposite and come up with bizarre ories which claim to be concrete evidence to back ir beliefs, but often get disregarded with an easy fact check. One such bizarre claim has w started doing rounds on internet. 

Also read: AP FACT CHECK: Trump hype on drug costs, hydroxychloroquine

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Claim 

A mess being circulated online recently claims that Anthony Fauci, who is a Cornell graduate, was roommates with Bill Gates during college. mess predominantly revolves around Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 which has reached phase 3 trials of testing, claiming that Anthony Fauci was first CEO of company, thus having ties with Bill Gates furrmore. Moderna is an American biotechlogy company that focusses on drug developments. Check out viral mess below - 

Also read: Fact check: Does hydroxychloroquine treat COVID-19 in its entirety?

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Were Bill Gates and Fauci roommates?

To get one claim out of hand, Dr. Anthony Fauci has been Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).  immulogist and physician has never been CEO of Moderna company. Fauci has been a part of NIAID since 1984, whereas Moderna was founded in 2010. Fauci has graduated from Cornell University Medical College back in 1966, thus having educational connection with Bill Gates, who attended Harvard College before dropping out in mid-1970s. Before attending Cornell University, Fauci studied at College of Holy Cross in Massachusetts, a college having connection with Bill Gates eir. 

Also read: Fact check: Was Subway Surfers created to hour owner's dead child?

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Google Trends Analysis

As viral mess claiming Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates were roommates started doing rounds on internet, people took to Google and searched to verify it. This resulted in a surge of search results based on same topic. Check out Google Trends analysis for 'Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates' roommates below -

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Also read: Fact check: Is kia giving free smartphones to students & workers amid pandemic?

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16:12 IST, August 3rd 2020