Hantavirus Scientists Were Close To Vaccine But Ran Out of Money

Dr. Barria’s team at the Universidad de Concepción in Chile successfully developed antibodies neutralizing the hantavirus by 2016, confirmed by a fluorescent green glow test under a microscope. After animal trials succeeded, the lab lacked funding to proceed with human testing, leaving progress stalled. The Andes virus strain, the only known hantavirus to spread person-to-person, caused a deadly outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship departing Argentina, prompting a WHO alert. This outbreak has intensified global efforts to develop treatments, as the virus remains rare but deadly, killing about one-third of infected individuals. Kartik Chandran, a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has advanced an antibody treatment to human trial readiness, though few cases complicate testing. His research, still early-stage, aims to create a protective antibody for future outbreaks, with discussions ongoing for potential deployment. Chile has reported 39 cases and 13 deaths in 2026, while Argentina recorded 42 infections by May 7, highlighting the virus’s regional threat. Barria’s team had collaborated with international partners, including the NIH and German Robert Koch Institute, but funding shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted progress. The virus had been overlooked globally due to its rarity and geographic concentration in southern Chile and Argentina. Barria’s lab began work in 2014 using blood samples from survivors, but financial constraints and the pandemic halted advancements, mirroring challenges faced in coronavirus research before COVID-19.