I’m fighting misinformation online. False hantavirus claims follow a now-familiar playbook

1

The hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in eight cases, three of which have been fatal.
2

Ivermectin is falsely claimed to treat hantavirus, despite there being no specific antiviral treatment for the virus.
3

Misinformation about the outbreak quickly spread on social media, with claims linking it to Covid vaccines and conspiracy theories.
4

Public health misinformation now operates like an infrastructure, rapidly spreading false claims and monetizing outrage.
5

Half of Americans under 50 rely on influencers for health information, creating a growing audience primed to distrust public health guidance.