TikTok account "ferizaj0552" published a video on Thursday (May 14) claiming that cases of hantavirus infection have been recorded in Kosovo.
The video shows ATV moderator Resul Sinani, stating that "According to NIPHK data, the largest number of cases was registered in Ferizaj, with five cases...".
The video also includes a picture that appears as an article with the Klan Kosova logo, with the title "HANTAVIRUS HAS ARRIVED IN KOSOVO".
The truth?
After fact-checking by hibrid.info, it has been proven that the claim is false, while the moderator's video has been taken out of context.
It has also been confirmed that Klan Kosova has never published an article claiming that Hantavirus has arrived in Kosovo", which indicates that the photo shown in the video is edited.
FACTS
After online research, hibrid.info found the authentic video of Resul Sinani, in which he explained the current situation regarding measles cases in Kosovo (see here).
So, the TikTok account "ferizaj0552" took the video published by ATV and republished it with the false claim that the moderator was talking about cases of hantavirus.
To prove that this is a report on measles cases, and not hantavirus, hibrid.info has also found the announcement of National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo (NIPHK), published on May 12. The content of this announcement matches the moderator's statements in the video.
NIKSHPK on May 8, through a Facebook announcement, informed that hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (EHSV), caused by hantaviruses, is not a new disease in Kosovo. The number of cases reported over the years remains low and stable.
"During the period 2021–2025, a total of eight cases were reported, by year: two cases in 2021, one case in 2022, with two cases each in 2023 and 2024, and one case in 2025. These data indicate a low prevalence of the disease in the country," The NIPHK announcement further states.
So, there is no announcement from the NIPHK about new cases of this infection.
Hibrid.info has also searched the website of the portal Klankosova.tv, to confirm the claim of the aforementioned account that this portal had reported on the arrival of hantavirus in Kosovo.
However, the search did not find any published article with this claim, proving that the image presented in the video is edited (see here).
What is hantavirus?
NIKSHPK clarifies that hantaviruses are viruses that are transmitted from rodents to humans. Infection occurs primarily through the inhalation of particles contaminated with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. In Europe, the disease most commonly presents as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (EHSV).
The incubation period is usually about two weeks, but can last from 7 days to 6 weeks. Symptoms can be mild or severe and include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, gastrointestinal problems, and in severe cases kidney damage or respiratory problems.
Transmission method
Infected rodents shed the virus through urine, feces, and saliva. Humans are primarily infected through contact with contaminated environments or materials. The hantaviruses circulating in Europe are not transmitted from person to person and are not carried by insects. Human-to-human transmission has only been documented for the Andes virus (ANDV) in some areas of South America.
Who is most at risk?
The highest risk of exposure is:
- forest workers,
- farmers,
- people who work or stay in environments where rodents are present.
Treatment and vaccine
There is currently no licensed vaccine against hantavirus in Europe and no specific antiviral treatment. Supportive care and symptomatic treatment are very important for the management of the disease.
Preventive measures
To reduce the risk of infection it is recommended:
- avoiding contact with rodents and their waste;
- regular maintenance and cleaning of living and working spaces;
- ventilation of enclosed spaces before cleaning;
- using a mask and gloves when cleaning areas where there may be rodents.
On May 5, two cases of hantavirus were confirmed, after three people died and another became seriously ill in a suspected outbreak of the infection aboard a cruise ship traveling across the Atlantic Ocean. (see here).
Analyze
A video published on TikTok by the account "ferizaj0552" claimed that cases of hantavirus have been recorded in Kosovo, using a statement by the ATV moderator and a fabricated image attributed to the Klan Kosova television portal.
However, fact-checking by hibrid.info has shown that this claim is false. The video used by moderator Resul Sinani was taken out of context and was actually related to measles cases in Kosovo, according to reports from the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo.
Likewise, no article was found on Klankosova.tv that confirms the hantavirus claim, proving that the material presented in the video is manipulated.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses the content published on TikTok as "Manipulation of facts" and "Fraud".
rationale
“Factual manipulation” is a rating given to informational content that uses facts known to be accurate but interprets them in a distorted manner. These reports typically use accurate information to draw incorrect conclusions or claims, thereby misleading consumers of media content about the actual meaning of the facts presented.
The “Deception” rating is given to informational content that is manipulated in terms of visual (deepfake, cheapfake), audio, or textual content to deceive the audience. This form of deception is usually used to produce false and manipulated content.