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Health officials tackle hantavirus panic by borrowing lessons from COVID misinformation playbooks
International
Published on 15 May 2026
They fear “panic-texting” is spreading faster than the virus
A hantavirus outbreak tied to a quarantined luxury cruise ship in the Atlantic has reignited COVID-era online panic, forcing health officials to rethink communication. Officials say the Andes strain is not new and is unlikely to trigger a pandemic, yet knowledge gaps and misinformation are fueling fear of lockdowns and unproven treatments. They’re emphasizing transparent, evidence-based messaging to balance concern with reassurance, while warning that trust has been eroded by slow and inconsistent COVID responses.
- Officials say the Andes hantavirus is not new and is unlikely to cause a pandemic
- As of Thursday, there were three deaths among 11 reported cases linked to the Hondius
- Dozens of other passengers are being monitored across about 20 countries
- Ship samples show no meaningful variation from the virus circulating in Argentina and Chile
- Online claims include false fears about lockdowns and misuse of ivermectin, vitamin D, and zinc
- Misinformation also targets vaccines with conspiracy theories and hoax allegations
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times