Scientists working to create hantavirus vaccine

An international team of scientists is racing to develop a vaccine for hantavirus after an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed from Argentina last month. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed three deaths and identified eight cases—three confirmed and five suspected—among passengers and crew. The origin of the outbreak remains unclear, and it is unknown if others outside the ship have been infected. One fatality involved a Dutch woman who disembarked at St Helena on April 24 and died two days later in South Africa. Another death occurred on board on April 11, involving a man whose case is not yet confirmed as hantavirus-related. A third fatality, a German woman, also remains under investigation. The team, led by Professor Asel Sartbaeva from the University of Bath, includes researchers from the United States and South Africa. They are using a novel method called insilication to stabilize the vaccine against temperature changes, allowing for potential delivery via drones. This approach could be critical for distributing vaccines in remote or resource-limited regions. Hantavirus, typically spread by rodents, has a low risk of human-to-human transmission, according to the WHO and the UK Health Security Agency. There is currently no specific treatment, but early medical intervention—such as oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, or dialysis—can improve survival rates for severe cases. The University of Bath has praised the research, highlighting its innovative potential in vaccine development. The team’s work aims to prevent future outbreaks and mitigate the severe consequences of hantavirus infections.