Facebook has claimed it will remove false claims, conspiracy theories, and rumours about the coronavirus in a bid to stem the ongoing public health emergency.

The virus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, with latest estimates claiming that more than 130 people have died as a result of the illness. A further 6,000 people are believed to be infected by the pneumonia-like illness, according to China’s National Health Commission.

The outbreak has left some of the world's tech’s biggest companies, including Facebook, Amazon, and Apple struggling to stem the tide of misinformation.

A number of conspiracy theories and “cures” have taken hold across social media, including one that suggested drinking bleach could be a cure to the virus.

“We will also start to remove content with false claims or conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations and local health authorities that could cause harm to people who believe them,” the company said in a blog post.

“We are doing this as an extension of our existing policies to remove content that could cause physical harm.”