The media couldn't get Hantavirus to stick as the new Covid.
Just doing a simple web search will tell you a few things about Hantavirus that make it far less of an issue than some would like it to be. The primary source of the disease is rodents. The main transmission vectors from an infected rodent are aerosol or droplets from feces, urine, saliva, or blood; bites or scratches; skin or fur particles from grooming; or eating contaminated food. You will also find that human to human transmission requires extended close contact, possibly just intimate contact, though evidence is not entirely clear.
The media... be it legacy or otherwise... rely on the scare tactics. The constant bombardment with information does not help. People used to have some down time and were able to process the information in a more calm and rational fashion. These days it's all about clicks, eyes, and distractions.