Lead

A rare outbreak of Andes hantavirus, linked to an expedition cruise ship and causing concern among health authorities, has reignited online promotion of ivermectin as a potential treatment. Political figures and prominent Covid-era ivermectin advocates are once again touting the antiparasitic drug, even as infectious disease experts say there is no clinical evidence supporting its use against hantaviruses.

The outbreak has also revived a wave of conspiracy theories, with false claims circulating on social media that the virus is a planned pandemic or a ploy to disrupt the US midterm elections. Some allege it is a 'bioweapon' created by big pharma, or a side effect of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Coverage Comparison

Two news outlets have reported on the story with different emphases. France 24's English service focuses on debunking conspiracy theories, highlighting the lack of research supporting ivermectin's use against hantaviruses and noting that global public health guidance does not predict a pandemic due to the virus. The Intercept takes a more critical stance, leading with the lack of clinical evidence and framing the revival of ivermectin promotion as part of a broader distrust in public health institutions.

The Intercept reports that health authorities are investigating a recent cluster of Andes hantavirus cases linked to international travelers aboard an expedition cruise ship traveling between Argentina, Antarctica, and South Africa. France 24 does not mention this investigation.

Key Claims

  • There is no clinical evidence supporting the use of ivermectin against hantaviruses, according to infectious disease experts cited by The Intercept. France 24 also states there is no research supporting its use.
  • The Andes hantavirus can cause severe respiratory illness and has demonstrated limited ability for person-to-person transmission in previous outbreaks, as reported by The Intercept.
  • Mortality rates in some outbreaks of Andes hantavirus are estimated at as high as 50 percent, according to The Intercept.
  • Some Republican-led states are expanding access to ivermectin, allowing it to be sold without a prescription, as reported by The Intercept.
  • Conspiracy theories falsely claim hantavirus is a planned pandemic or a ploy to disrupt the US midterm elections, as reported by France 24.
  • Global public health guidance does not predict a pandemic due to hantavirus, according to France 24.

Perspectives

Public Health Experts

Infectious disease experts, including Maria Van Kerkhove, Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Management at the World Health Organisation, emphasize that hantavirus is not the start of a new pandemic. Van Kerkhove stated: "This is not COVID, this is not the start of a COVID pandemic. This is not the same situation we were in 6 years ago. It doesn't spread the same way." Experts also note that the virus requires close contact to spread, making it significantly less transmissible than Covid-19.

Ivermectin Advocates

Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X suggesting that vitamin D, zinc, and ivermectin could prevent the rodent-borne disease. In another post, she claimed pharmaceutical companies "manipulate the virus (bioweapon)" and "make the vaccine (poison)." Other advocates, including physician Mary Talley Bowden and commentator Josh Walkos, known online as "Champagne Joshi," also circulated ivermectin-related claims online.

Conspiracy Theorists

Theorists, including Alex Jones and Marjorie Taylor Greene, amplified claims that hantavirus is a "plandemic" created by Big Pharma and vaccine manufacturers, or a "biological weapon" created in a laboratory. These claims are not supported by evidence, as noted by France 24.