In the United States, conspiracy theories about hantavirus fueled by pro

Some members of the MAGA, “Make America Great Again”, ecosystem are behind the conspiracy theories circulating in the United States about the hantavirus, while the relatively lax health protocol compared to European countries is worrying some health officials.

With these early followers of Donald Trump, the American conspiracy sphere is starting up again or rather getting back on track. It’s the same old accounts that were spreading conspiracy theories about Covid that are now recycling this false information.

The main idea is that the hantavirus is a “plandemic,” a planned pandemic. This is what Alex Jones, a prominent figure in conspiracy theories in the United States who has been heavily fined for his lies, supports. He claims, “It’s happening again. They want a lockdown. They want to control us. They want to destroy the economy,” in a clip viewed over a million times.

Context: This article discusses how some individuals associated with the MAGA movement are perpetuating conspiracy theories surrounding the hantavirus in the United States.

Politically motivated accounts often claim, without evidence, that the hantavirus is being used to interfere in the upcoming midterm elections scheduled for November. Democrats are sometimes singled out, accused of exaggerating the virus’ impact to damage Donald Trump politically, who is currently polling poorly.

Mery Telli Bowden, a Texas doctor known for spreading false information, explains in a video that the midterms are approaching, and the purpose of the hantavirus is to scare the population. She concludes, “This is not just about a virus.”

The drug ivermectin is making a comeback. It was previously believed to cure Covid. In the American public debate, it is somewhat equivalent to hydroxychloroquine in France. In a tweet viewed 3.5 million times, former Trump-supporting lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene presents ivermectin as a potential treatment for the hantavirus. She also mentions vitamin D and zinc.

This narrative is echoed by many influencers who often sell these products themselves, even though there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the hantavirus.