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Social media revives Covid-era bioweapon claims as cruise ship cases reach nine.
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Nine confirmed hantavirus cases linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius have triggered a resurgence of Covid-era conspiracy theories on social media, with users falsely blaming Bill Gates for creating a "bioweapon."
The outbreak revived "plandemic" narratives that circulated during the coronavirus pandemic. Social media platforms saw rapid spread of unfounded claims connecting Gates to the virus outbreak.
Health authorities have not attributed the hantavirus to any deliberate creation. The conspiracy theories demonstrate persistent misinformation patterns despite previous debunking efforts.
Nine hantavirus cases on a Dutch cruise ship have triggered a wave of false Bill Gates conspiracy theories on social media, reviving discredited "plandemic" narratives from the Covid era. Health authorities have found no evidence of deliberate creation, but the misinformation is spreading rapidly across platforms.
If you're planning a cruise or traveling soon, be aware that disease outbreak misinformation is actively circulating and may cause unnecessary panic or poor decision-making about travel safety. The resurgence of these conspiracy theories also signals that social media platforms continue to struggle with containing health-related disinformation, which could affect how you evaluate public health information in your feed.