COVID is shaping Americans' reaction to Ebola and hantavirus

Americans’ reactions to recent Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks reflect lingering anxiety from COVID-19, with social media platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram flooded with pandemic-related discussions. Searches for the term 'pandemic' on Google Trends have surged in recent weeks, while comedic and fearful posts about potential lockdowns or new outbreaks have gone viral. Chandra Harvey, an Instagram creator whose video on another possible pandemic garnered over 100,000 views, described the collective experience as 'PTSD from COVID,' noting her family’s trauma from hospitalizations during the pandemic. Public health experts attribute the heightened fear to COVID-19’s profound impact, with over 1 million U.S. deaths reported. While Ebola is currently spreading in eastern Africa—primarily through bodily fluids—and hantavirus has been detected on a cruise ship, infectious disease specialists emphasize that neither poses the same airborne transmission risk as COVID-19. Dr. Ali S. Khan, dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, stressed that Americans should not equate these outbreaks with another pandemic, despite the emotional triggers they evoke. Dr. Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security noted that diseases like Ebola and hantavirus historically inspire 'dread' due to their exotic perception, even if flu-related deaths far exceed them annually. Harvey’s family, like many, reacted strongly to back-to-back reports of Ebola and hantavirus, with one member stating, 'Any time you hear of anything from a virus perspective, it’s just scary.' Adalja added that COVID-19 has conditioned people to group outbreaks together, though their spread mechanisms differ drastically. Ebola typically requires direct contact with infected bodily fluids, while hantavirus is often linked to rodent exposure. COVID-19, by contrast, spreads through airborne particles, making it far more contagious in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. Experts urge caution against alarmism, advising the public to rely on verified sources amid sensationalized headlines. The psychological toll of COVID-19 remains evident, with many Americans remaining vigilant—and fearful—of future health crises.