There is no vaccine for deadly hantavirus: what that means for future outbreaks

Key Points:

• An outbreak of hantavirus onboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in three confirmed infections, including one death, and five suspected cases with two fatalities, highlighting the virus's severity and lack of treatment options.
• The passengers were infected with the Andes virus species, known for occasional human-to-human transmission and no available vaccines or specific treatments, with some possibly contracting it in Argentina prior to the cruise.
• Jay Hooper, a virologist at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, has been developing hantavirus vaccines since the 1980s, focusing on species like Andes virus, but challenges remain due to the rarity of cases and difficulty conducting large-scale efficacy trials.
• The Andes virus DNA vaccine shows promise by inducing neutralizing antibodies in humans, though it requires multiple doses, and researchers are exploring antibody-based protection using animal models to meet licensing requirements.
• Funding constraints and the sporadic nature of infections limit advanced vaccine development, and any licensed vaccine would likely target high-risk groups, such as military personnel or people in endemic regions.