Overview
- Health officials confirmed the Andes strain in cases tied to the MV Hondius cruise ship, where three passengers died and others became ill.
- The virus can spread through close contact and has high fatality in past outbreaks, yet the World Health Organization says the general public faces low risk.
- Mary Talley Bowden, whose post on X Wednesday drew millions of views, claimed ivermectin “should work” and offered pills to Texans without a prescription for up to $110 per 100.
- Infectious disease experts and the WHO say there is no evidence ivermectin treats hantavirus, and scientists note the virus replicates in the cell cytoplasm rather than the nucleus cited in online claims.
- Doctors warn high or improper doses of ivermectin can cause seizures and other neurological harm, and they urge early supportive care like oxygen, ICU support, ECMO, and dialysis when needed.