90-Second Read: Old Moderna research triggers false Hantavirus claims online

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... 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 ). AFP has previously debunked other false claims about the Hantavirus. 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 " depopulation " agenda.

Although "relatively uncommon", some Hantavirus cases are associated with a high fatality rate, making the disease "a major public health concern", according to the World Health Organization (WHO) ( archived link ). A total of 10 cases have been reported in the cruise ship outbreak, including three deaths as of May 15, with eight cases confirmed for Andes virus infection -- the only strain transmitted between humans (archived here and here ). Hantavirus infection has been a nationally notifiable disease in the United States since 1995 ( archived link ). 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.

There are currently no approved vaccines for global use or specific treatments for Hantavirus. Unlike Covid-19, which killed millions worldwide, the risk that Hantavirus poses to the general population is " absolutely low ", WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said on May 8 ( archived link ). Not all Hantaviruses can cause human infections, but the strains that do are transmitted through inhalation of aerosols contaminated by the saliva, droppings or urine of infected rodents ( archived link ). Furthermore, unlike Covid-19 -- which is caused by a virus previously unknown until its detection in late 2019 -- Hantavirus has long been identified.

Kim, the microbiology professor, said that given the Hantavirus's limited mode of transmission, it is highly unlikely that it could cause a global pandemic. Hantaviruses are split into two groups : the so-called old world viruses found in Europe, Asia and Africa; and new world ones in North, Central and South America ( archived link ). Moderna separately told AFP the partnership with Korea University is part of the company's efforts "to develop countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases".