“Hantavirus is a trick!” — Chris Oyakhilome reacts to outbreak fears

President of the LoveWorld Ministry, Chris Oyakhilome, has described recent concerns over Hantavirus as misleading, saying the illness is part of a long-standing deception.

Speaking during a recent Rhapathon service, Oyakhilome told his audience that uncertainty about the virus should be met with prayer for understanding, adding that answers would come through spiritual guidance.

He linked the current discussions around Hantavirus to the COVID-19 era, repeating his earlier position that the pandemic was not a divine act but the result of deliberate human planning influenced by what he described as spiritual forces behind global events. He also criticised the enforcement of pandemic-era restrictions by some Christian officials in government, referencing arrests of church members who continued worship during lockdowns.

Addressing Hantavirus directly, he dismissed it as fabricated, arguing that it had been known to authorities long before recent global attention and suggesting it was evidence of prior planning. He rejected its legitimacy, calling it part of what he described as a recurring pattern of deception.

“These are constructed narratives,” he said during the sermon, insisting that the virus had been created earlier and was being presented in a way intended to mislead the public.

Health authorities, however, continue to treat Hantavirus as a serious zoonotic disease transmitted mainly through contact with infected rodents or their waste. Recent reports of increased cases across parts of Asia and Europe have prompted renewed monitoring efforts by public health agencies.

Countries including China, India, Spain, and Italy have recorded outbreaks in 2026, with officials focusing on containment measures due to the virus’s potential to cause severe respiratory complications and high fatality rates in some cases.