As news stories about Hantavirus continue spreading online and on television, many people are beginning to wonder if another pandemic could happen. Recent reports about outbreaks on a cruise ship and growing social media discussions have caused concern, especially after the world experienced COVID-19 just a few years ago. However health experts say Hantavirus is very different from COVID-19 and is much less likely to spread worldwide.
According to a recent article from Stanford Medicine, Hantavirus has existed for years and is most commonly spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. Experts say the virus does not spread nearly as easily as COVID-19. Another report from CNBC explained that recent concerns increased after a cruise ship outbreak gained national attention.
Angelina Yager, who works in healthcare, believes media coverage can sometimes increase fear around diseases. She said, “The news and media outlets make it mass hysteria.” She also explained that many diseases exist and spread every year and that people should “stick together to come up with solutions and use knowledge to make decisions.”
Anayla Thompson, a senior, believes social media has played a major role in how younger people view the outbreak. She explained that “it’s easy to fear monger because of this,” referring to how people online can exaggerate information for views and attention. However she also said reliable YouTube videos and news articles helped calm her worries after learning more about the virus.
Another senior, Jierui Lin, believes Hantavirus is unlikely to become another pandemic because it spreads much less easily than COVID-19. He said there is “not much concern about Hantavirus” and explained that people should continue living normally while scientists continue researching treatments and vaccines.
Medical experts agree that Hantavirus is different from COVID-19. According to an article from Al Jazeera, The virus is harder to transmit between humans, making global pandemic less likely. A report from TribLIVE also stated that while doctors are monitoring outbreaks carefully, most experts do not believe the virus currently poses the same level of worldwide threat as COVID-19 did. Even though experts say Hantavirus is unlikely to become another pandemic, many people still feel nervous because of the lasting effects COVID-19 had on schools, families and everyday life. Anayla mentioned that another pandemic could affect “graduation, prom, and college opportunities, “showing how students worry about missing important experiences again
Overall the recent Hantavirus concerns show how much the world has changed since COVID-19. People are now more aware of disease outbreaks, but they also must learn how to separate facts from fear online. While health experts continue studying the virus, most agree that staying informed and listening to reliable medical sources is the best way to respond.
