Fact Check: Was Hantavirus Created for Global Elite Profits?

Fact Check: Was Hantavirus Created for Global Elite Profits?

Fact Check – Since May 2026, social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have circulated claims that the Hantavirus was intentionally introduced by the global elite to serve commercial interests. These assertions rely on statements from retired Police Commissioner General Dr. Dharma Pongrekun, M.M., who is described as a biochemist and geopolitical observer. The narrative gained traction after several passengers aboard the MV Hondius, traveling from Ushuaia (Argentina) to the Canary Islands (Spain), contracted hantavirus between April and May 2026.

Tempo’s Investigation

Tempo conducted a thorough verification by cross-referencing the claims with research reports, expert opinions, and reliable data. The findings confirm that hantavirus is a naturally occurring pathogen, having infected humans since the 1950s. It is not a man-made creation designed for profit.

Dharma Pongrekun’s Background

The spread of the conspiracy theory depends on Dharma’s statements. A graduate of the Indonesian Military Academy in 1988, he dedicated his career to policing, focusing on criminal investigations. His roles included Deputy Director of General Crimes at Bareskrim Polri (2015–2016), Director of Narcotics Crimes at the same agency, and Deputy Head of BSSN in July 2019. Academically, he holds a Master’s in Law from Gadjah Mada University (2006) and an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from MBC University Depok (2023).

“Correct information should not be determined by the number of academics who acknowledge the research results,” Dharma said during a June 4, 2026, interview with Tempo.

Tempo’s research shows Dharma lacks formal training in biochemistry or geopolitics. His linguistic analysis of the word “hanta” in Hebrew, claiming it means “lie,” is not supported by scientific evidence. The virus’s name, in fact, originates from the Hantan River in South Korea, where its rat host was first isolated.

The Natural Origin of Hantavirus

Dr. Candra Bumi, M.Sc., a Molecular Epidemiology & Immunology lecturer at the University of Jember (Unej), clarified that the virus was identified by virologist Professor Ho Wang Lee in 1976. This came after Lee studied over 3,000 rodents in the Korean border region, suspecting a connection to a dengue fever outbreak. The virus, later named hantavirus, was isolated from a rat near the Hantan River, which flows through Gangwon and Gyeonggi Provinces.

Hantaviruses are responsible for two primary diseases in humans: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HPS). Mortality rates vary significantly, from 1% in Asia to as high as 50% in the Americas. In Indonesia, 256 suspected HFRS cases were reported between 2024 and 2026, with 23 confirmed, though no HPS cases have been documented.

Global Impact and Research

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that hantavirus infections are relatively uncommon, with an estimated 10,000 to 100,000 cases annually worldwide. Asia and Europe bear the highest burden, while the Americas experience higher fatality rates. Despite ongoing vaccine research, no global distribution has occurred yet, according to Dr. Candra Bumi.

Conclusion

Tempo’s verification concluded that the claim of hantavirus being a deliberate tool for elite profit lacks scientific backing. The virus is naturally occurring, with historical evidence tracing its presence to the 1950s. While Dharma Pongrekun’s arguments add to the debate, they do not overturn the consensus among experts and researchers.