VOLUME 47

A hantavirus outbreak linked to a Dutch cruise ship in early May was followed by false health claims that mirror patterns documented in previous outbreaks, including unsupported claims that ivermectin is an effective treatment, that the outbreak was planned in advance, and that it was caused by COVID-19 vaccines.

The Monitor also examines a new analysis of Americans’ relationship with health and wellness influencers, finding that most who get health information and advice from them express skepticism about what they hear.

What We’re Watching

As Hantavirus Cases Emerged, So Did Familiar False Claims About Causes and Cures

False health claims tend to follow recognizable patterns across outbreaks, including distrust of official sources, promotion of unproven treatments, and accusations of hidden profit motives. The hantavirus outbreak linked to the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius was no exception, with several familiar false narratives spreading alongside the official response from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies:

• Unproven Treatments: Within hours of the first headlines, a Texas otolaryngologist who became a prominent promoter of ivermectin during COVID-19 posted without evidence on May 6 that ivermectin “should work” as a hantavirus treatment because it “is a RNA virus,” claiming that ivermectin “blocks RNA viruses” from replicating in the cell nucleus. The claim overstates available evidence from some laboratory and animal studies about...

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