"Those are alien spores"—Internet reacts as 'Fogvid-24' fog making people sick conspiracy sparks alarm across the globe

The United Kingdom (UK) is experiencing a thick layer of fog that has affected flights, trains, and other modes of travel. In the wake of this incident, a conspiracy theory has circulated online that it is not a regular but a chemical mist that has reportedly left hundreds of people sick with sudden cold/flu-like symptoms.

Now being dubbed “Fogvid-24,” Daily Mail reported that it has been seen not only in the UK but also in parts of the USA and Canada, such as Florida and Ontario, respectively. The term has probably been derived from COVID-19, seemingly due to alleged similar symptoms such as runny nose, fever, fatigue, loss of energy, headaches, migraines, sore throat, and more.

All of these symptoms have reportedly emerged after individuals stepped outside and were exposed to the severe mist.

Videos and images of this "Fogvid-24" have now gone viral on X, with people having varied reactions to them. For instance, an X user @NadaBotski3 commented on a post by @OneBadDude_ who shared a clip of such a phenomenon.

“Those are alien spores,” the user wrote.

Many people joined the conversation and shared similar theories on the platform.

“I'm really not trying to buy into the 'Fogvid-24' conspiracy where people are saying the thick blanket of fog over the UK that impacted us for about three days straight has made people ill but I got rapidly ill with cold/flu symptoms and it was after brief exposure to it,” a person wrote.

“We need to know what is being sprayed in our skies. This is NOT a conspiracy theory any more than masks not working was a conspiracy theory. Does anyone believe this is all a coincidence?” one person asked.

“I'm in MI. It was foggy for a few days after Christmas (normally it's snow), and it was unusually dark. Two days ago, sore throat. Today, my head is going to explode, and exhausted. There may be something to this,” wrote another.

Others continued to chime in, contributing to the theory:

“The crust is being sub-ducted in the Pacific NW. With the ground breaking up it is releasing trapped methane. That’s where the chemical smell and illness is coming from. They can also create Methane Light Towers,” a netizen wrote.

“Can’t someone capture some of the fog and test it? Or do I sound dumb right now,” another netizen wrote.

“'Fog' showed up on both coasts when Covid hit. A friend sent a pic the same night we saw the fog come off the ocean. One of my kid’s friends lived in San Francisco & said she had never seen anything like it here. That was 2019. All hell broke loose after that,” a user wrote.

“Nanotechnology particles IMO,“ wrote another.

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Exploring reports about the fog-like phenomena in the UK

According to the Daily Mail, there has been a "significant disruption" in the busiest airports across the UK, including Heathrow, Luton, and Manchester, where all live departure boards have shown flight delays, due to extreme fog. Local airports such as Stansted and Gatwick are also affected.

The UK‘s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has shared with the outlet that air restrictions will continue as the airfields arecompletely misty.

“While the weather conditions have improved, fog continues to affect some airports in London today. Temporary air traffic restrictions are therefore in place at airfields with low visibility to maintain safety,” a spokesperson shared.

NATS spokesperson further said:

“Our teams are working closely with the airports and airlines to minimize disruption but passengers should check the status of their flight with their airline.”

The Meteorological Office, aka the Met Office, has also shared that misty conditions can reduce visibility and advised passengers to contact their respective airlines for frequent updates. More than 20,000 air travelers have been impacted.

Warnings have also been issued to train and road travelers, with drivers being asked to leave “extra braking distances” and reduce speed. An estimated 3.8 million drivers have been affected.

Meanwhile, around New Year’s Eve, it is expected that the sky in the UK will clear up and the country will experience snow and rain, including “blustery and wet conditions” in the north and “less expansive” shower in the south. Scotland and Northern Ireland also have misty and rainy forecasts.

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As for the USA, the Northwest, South, and Midwest have also experienced similar misty conditions affecting millions of Americans traveling for the festive season. Parts of Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Florida, and Minnesota, are the most impacted.

Moreover, Arkansas and Louisiana have experienced southern storms, while Washington, Oregon, and northern California have witnessed northerlies and rainfall.