A hantavirus outbreak aboard an Atlantic cruise ship has revived Covid-era conspiracies, with posts falsely alleging an old Moderna hantavirus research project proves the disease was a "hoax" designed to promote a mass vaccination event. The initiative aimed to address a "long-neglected pathogen" that continues to infect patients since it was documented in the 1950s, Moderna's partner university in South Korea told AFP. While deadly, the virus is unlikely to cause a global pandemic, according to multiple health experts.
"Exposing the hanta 'virus' hoax!!" reads a Korean-language X post shared May 7, 2026.
"Moderna began developing a hantavirus mRNA vaccine in 2024," it says, adding this was the "exact same playbook" the world saw with the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Scaring the public, stoking anxiety and ultimately pushing a new mRNA vaccine -- a classic Deep State tactic."
It quotes a nearly identical post that featured press releases about a collaboration between Covid-19 vaccine maker Moderna and Korea University's College of Medicine on the development of an mRNA-based hantavirus jab.
Similar false claims ricocheted in Chinese, Dutch and English posts, with some alleging hantavirus "does not exist" and the deadly outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship was "pre-planned" (archived link).
The posts echo falsehoods peddled by opponents of coronavirus jabs, including that the Covid-19 pandemic was manufactured to benefit vaccine makers such as Moderna or to serve a so-called "...
"Exposing the hanta 'virus' hoax!!" reads a Korean-language X post shared May 7, 2026. "Moderna began developing a hantavirus mRNA vaccine in 2024," it says, adding this was the "exact same playbo...