Memories of the COVID-19 pandemic are shaping how many Americans react to new disease outbreaks, including recent cases involving hantavirus and Ebola, according to health experts interviewed by NPR.
The report says fears surrounding infectious diseases have intensified online and in public discourse as news spreads about separate outbreaks involving both viruses. Public health officials, however, stress that neither situation currently poses the same type of global threat as COVID-19.
One source of concern has been a recent hantavirus outbreak connected to a cruise ship, where several passengers became ill and three people died. Officials identified the virus as the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare form capable of limited human-to-human transmission.
Even so, experts from the World Health Organization said the virus spreads far differently than COVID-19 and is unlikely to develop into a pandemic. Hantavirus most commonly spreads through exposure to infected rodent droppings or urine and only rarely passes between people.
At the same time, health officials are monitoring Ebola outbreaks in parts of Central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Experts interviewed in the report described the Ebola situation as more serious because the strain involved lacks an approved vaccine and is spreading in regions facing strained healthcare systems and ongoing instability.
Still, scientists note that Ebola is significantly less transmissible than airborne viruses like COVID-19 because it spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids rather than through the air.
The report also highlights how social media has amplified public anxiety around disease outbreaks. Platforms including TikTok and Reddit have seen an increase in posts speculating about future pandemics, while internet searches involving the word “pandemic” have risen sharply in recent weeks.
Public health experts said the emotional and psychological effects of COVID-19 continue to influence how people interpret new health threats. While increased awareness can encourage preparedness, researchers warned that fear and misinformation can spread quickly when outbreaks are misunderstood or exaggerated online.
The story also points to broader concerns about global preparedness for future health emergencies. Experts cited in the report warned that many countries remain vulnerable because of weakened public trust, political divisions and reduced investment in public health infrastructure following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, health officials urged the public to stay informed while avoiding panic, emphasizing that different viruses carry different risks and require different responses.
