From conspiracy theories claiming that the term "hantavirus" is derived from Hebrew, to claims that big pharma groups created the virus to drive up vaccine profits, a slew of false claims about the pathogen have emerged on social media in recent weeks.
The hantavirus outbreak occurred aboard the MV Hondius ship, which set sail from Argentina on 1 April, before it docked on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands on 10 May.
Eleven people aboard the MV Hondius fell ill, with at least nine confirmed cases. Three passengers on the cruise died, including a Dutch couple who health officials believe were the first exposed to the virus while visiting South America.
Hantavirus contamination typically occurs when humans come into contact with rodent droppings, urine or saliva, while infections can be subsequently passed on through humans.
Across social media, a number of users have spread misleading statements, alleging that the antiparasitic drug ivermectin — which was also falsely touted as a cure for COVID-19 — can be used to treat hantavirus.
Figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Trump loyalist and congresswoman, who is known for spreading conspiracy theories was among those who shared such claims.
However, the use of ivermectin as a hantavirus cure is...
Misinformation about hantavirus has run rampant on social media, with online users reviving viral COVID-19 theories to spread fake news about the outbreak. From conspiracy theories claiming that...