Facebook Page Admin Bailed for NT$100,000 Over False Kaohsiung Hantavirus Claims
The administrator of a Facebook page, surnamed Liu, was released on NT$100,000 bail after being investigated for spreading false information on May 6th, which claimed that Kaohsiung's Hantavirus cases were five times that of Taipei and New Taipei. The Kaohsiung City Department of Health refuted the claims, and following an investigation by prosecutors, Liu is suspected of violating the Communicable Disease Control Act.
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- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 16:34
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 17:01 (27 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 19, 2026 at 21:29 (4h 27m after Collected)
(CNA, Kaohsiung, May 19, by reporter Chang I-liam) The administrator of a Facebook page who spread messages on May 6th claiming "Kaohsiung Hantavirus cases are five times that of Taipei and New Taipei" has been released on NT$100,000 bail. The information was refuted as false by the Kaohsiung City Department of Health, and after an investigation by prosecutors and police, the administrator, surnamed Liu, is suspected of violating the Communicable Disease Control Act.
The Kaohsiung City Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau issued a press release today explaining that a Facebook community page spread false information on May 6th, claiming "Kaohsiung already has 18 to 20 cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, five times the number of cases in Taipei and New Taipei." The post noted that the data source was public information from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The Kaohsiung City Investigation Bureau stated that this message caused public panic about the spread of Hantavirus in Kaohsiung and severely disrupted social order. After tracing the source, it was found that the false information was posted by Mr. Liu, who is the administrator of this fan page.
The Bureau pointed out that on the 18th, they summoned Mr. Liu and two others for questioning. After a follow-up interrogation by a prosecutor from the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office, Mr. Liu was ordered to be released on NT$100,000 bail for suspected violation of Article 63 of the Communicable Disease Control Act. The others were released without bail.
The Kaohsiung City Investigation Bureau urges that all information regarding epidemic prevention and control of communicable diseases is uniformly released by the Taiwan CDC. The public should think critically and carefully verify any information related to communicable diseases they receive, and not spread false information due to misconceptions, as it may lead to legal violations.
The Kaohsiung City Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau issued a press release today explaining that a Facebook community page spread false information on May 6th, claiming "Kaohsiung already has 18 to 20 cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, five times the number of cases in Taipei and New Taipei." The post noted that the data source was public information from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The Kaohsiung City Investigation Bureau stated that this message caused public panic about the spread of Hantavirus in Kaohsiung and severely disrupted social order. After tracing the source, it was found that the false information was posted by Mr. Liu, who is the administrator of this fan page.
The Bureau pointed out that on the 18th, they summoned Mr. Liu and two others for questioning. After a follow-up interrogation by a prosecutor from the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office, Mr. Liu was ordered to be released on NT$100,000 bail for suspected violation of Article 63 of the Communicable Disease Control Act. The others were released without bail.
The Kaohsiung City Investigation Bureau urges that all information regarding epidemic prevention and control of communicable diseases is uniformly released by the Taiwan CDC. The public should think critically and carefully verify any information related to communicable diseases they receive, and not spread false information due to misconceptions, as it may lead to legal violations.