By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, May 13, GNA – The World Health Organization (WHO) has dismissed misinformation circulating online about hantavirus, saying the disease is not new and does not spread like COVID-19.
The organisation said hantaviruses had been known to health authorities for decades and were mainly transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings.
In a statement, the WHO urged the public to rely on verified scientific information instead of speculation and misleading narratives circulating on social media.
It said one of the common misconceptions was that hantavirus spread easily from person to person like COVID-19.
The WHO explained that although human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus, had been documented, such cases were rare and usually associated with close and prolonged contact in enclosed settings.
It also dismissed claims that ivermectin could cure hantavirus, stressing that there was currently no scientific evidence to support the use of the drug in treating the disease.
The organisation said antibiotics were not routinely used for hantavirus infections because the disease was caused by a virus and not bacteria, except where secondary bacterial infections were suspected.
Addressing concerns over fatalities, the WHO said although there was no approved antiviral treatment for hantavirus, early supportive care and intensive medical treatment could significantly improve survival chances.
The organisation noted that precautionary measures such as monitoring, contact tracing and isolation were standard public health interventions for early detection and prevention, and should not be misconstrued as indications of a hidden outbreak.
It reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with countries and health partners to monitor developments, support patient care and strengthen public health response systems.
Health experts also advised the public to maintain good hygiene, avoid contact with rodents and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms including fever, fatigue and breathing difficulties developed after possible exposure.
The WHO urged media practitioners, social media users and community leaders to help combat misinformation by sharing accurate and evidence-based information on hantavirus and other infectious diseases.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Samira Larbie
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