Verifying viral odd claims about hantavirus on social media

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Elizabeth Ogunbamowo

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Discussions on public health issues thrive on social media platforms, and with the infodemic that shook the internet during the COVID-19 outbreak, media literacy practitioners continue to monitor these discussions to ensure they do not mislead or deceive the public. 

On May 2, 2026, the World Health Organisation received a report of passengers aboard a cruise ship with severe respiratory illness. By May 8, a total of eight cases, including three deaths, had been reported. This report sent shock waves across the world as several people expressed worry that the disease would affect millions of people globally, especially as there is no specific cure for this disease.

According to the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents. They can cause serious illness or death in people. They are mostly spread through contact with contaminated urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents. This has since been a cause of concern among members of the medical community and the public at large.

Amid rising concerns about hantavirus, DUBAWA observed that some social media accounts engaged in rage-baiting by posting odd, unrealistic claims about the virus, distracting users from real, valuable information.

These claims include: Hantavirus would affect the reproductive organs of infected individuals, and that it is targeted at a particular set of persons, particularly Black people.

Recognising this as a public health issue and given the potential impact of such claims, DUBAWA analysed some of the claims and provided the facts from authorised bodies.

Claim 1: Hantavirus shrinks penis size

A claim went viral on social media in the first week of May, 2026, with some social media users claiming the hantavirus can make the penis shrink by 3 inches. 

The social media post stated that this claim has been confirmed by research, adding that a ‘small preliminary study shows men experienced penis shrinkage of up to 3 inches in severe cases due to inflammation and restricted blood flow.’

Another user, who claims various titles in his videos, also supported the claim.

When DUBAWA traced the claim to its source on social media, we found it was first posted by Ragebait Media on May 6, just 4 days after the first report of the Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. 

The account ‘Ragebait’ does exactly what its name implies, and in the bio, it says it is ‘an ultimate rage bait and is set to piss people off.’

Verdict: Insufficient Evidence 

According to the World Health Organisation, hantaviruses can cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). 

Medical articles note that hantaviruses can affect an infected person’s lungs, causing a buildup of fluid and serious problems with lung and heart function. 

This virus can also damage the heart muscle and blood vessels. Weak, leaky blood vessels affect the heart’s ability to send blood and nutrients throughout the body. The patient may go into cardiogenic shock, which can subsequently lead to organ failure and death.

HFRS, on the other hand, can affect kidney function. An infected person shows symptoms of HFRS within 1 to 2 weeks after exposure to hantavirus. Initial symptoms include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea, and blurred vision. Infected people may also develop low blood pressure, acute shock, vascular leakage, and acute kidney failure.

No research report confirms the effect of the virus on reproductive organs. 

Claim 2: Breastmilk contains compounds that cure hantavirus

The same platform posted an image story claiming that research has found that breastmilk contains compounds with “virus-neutralising properties” that can be used to cure the hantavirus.  

Verdict: Misleading! 

Medical science has consistently shown that breast milk has antiviral properties that protect babies against infection, which is why exclusive breastfeeding is always encouraged. During COVID, women infected with COVID were advised to continue breastfeeding their babies because the virus does not pass through breast milk; instead, the body produces antibodies that are passed to the baby through the milk.

Meanwhile, existing research reports showed how an infected mother passed the Andes Virus to her suckling child. The Andes virus is a lethal hantavirus strain that can pass from person to person. Another research report assumed other means of transmission, including intrauterine, perinatal during cesarean delivery, and aerosol inhalation during breastfeeding. 

However, no research presents breastmilk as a definitive cure for any illness. The research reports have only called for more research into the antimicrobial properties of breastmilk. Also, medical bodies have reiterated that there is no specific treatment or cure for the hantavirus. Therefore, the claim that breastmilk ‘cures’ hantavirus is misleading.

Claim 3: Hantavirus is out to kill black people

Some of the claims noted that the hantavirus was specifically targeted to affect and kill people of the black race. A Facebook post by Anonymous Commander claimed that the hantavirus was made using the melanin strain and is now targeted at depopulating the population of the Black race around the globe.

This claim has also been reshared by other social media users who shared the same sentiment, as seen here.

Verdict: False 

A ScienceDirect report explained that the infection has no biological or racial predilection. A person is prone to infection due to environmental exposure to rodent faeces, saliva, or urine. 

In a CDC data sheet that highlighted the race of persons infected with the hantavirus disease, only 1% were Black or African American, while about 75% were white.

Conclusion

There is no evidence to support these claims about hantavirus. The claims are false and unsubstantiated.