07.05.2026 11:54
As 3 people die on a cruise ship due to hantavirus, causing global concern, Bill Gates' pandemic warnings from years ago have resurfaced. Gates' statement 'COVID will not be the last pandemic; the next one could be much more severe' has started being shared again on social media. After the deaths on the ship, many users commented, 'Was this what Gates meant?'
After the hantavirus cases and the deaths of 3 people on a luxury cruise ship, attention has turned once again to Bill Gates' pandemic statements made years ago. Gates' words, "The next pandemic could be much more severe," have become a trending topic on social media.
The deaths of three people, one German and two Dutch, due to hantavirus on a cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Cape Verde have caused global concern. Following the monitoring of many passengers and alarms raised by some countries, Bill Gates' statements from 2024 have started being shared again on social media.
"COVID WILL NOT BE THE LAST PANDEMIC" HE SAID
Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in January 2024 on the program "The View" that COVID-19 would not be the last pandemic.
In his statement, Gates said, "We will definitely see a new pandemic within the next 25 years. The next one could be much more severe."
"WAS THIS WHAT GATES MEANT?"
After the deaths on the ship, many users on social media brought up Gates' old statements again. As his words, especially "The next pandemic could be more severe," were shared, some users expressed concerns that the hantavirus crisis could turn into a global epidemic.
WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?
Hantavirus is a serious infectious disease that usually occurs when viruses carried by mice and rodents are transmitted to humans. The virus is mostly transmitted by inhaling particles mixed into the air through contact with rodents' urine, feces, or saliva.
Symptoms include high fever, muscle pain, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. In advanced cases, it can cause severe lung damage and become fatal.
While some hantavirus types are only transmitted from animals to humans, the "Andes" type seen in South America is said to be able to spread from human to human in rare cases.
According to the World Health Organization, hantavirus is not as easily spread as COVID-19. Experts emphasize that the risk of spread without close physical contact is low.