90-Second Read: Here's what to know about Hantavirus vaccines after the cruise ship outbreak

The cruise ship outbreak has put renewed attention on the Andes virus, a rare type of Hantavirus that can spread between people and cause severe respiratory illness. The recent cruise ship outbreak has put renewed attention on the Andes virus, a rare type of Hantavirus that can spread between people and cause severe respiratory illness. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events The recent cruise ship outbreak has put renewed attention on the Andes virus, a rare type of Hantavirus that can spread between people and cause severe respiratory illness. The Andes virus, a rare type of Hantavirus, has a mortality rate of about 38%. The Andes virus can cause a severe respiratory illness with a mortality rate of about 38% and remains the only Hantavirus known to spread.

Hantavirus vaccine development began in the late 1980s with Hantavax, an inactivated vaccine designed for strains circulating in South Korea and China that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, a study in the journal Vaccines suggests. In the U.S., researchers are testing DNA Hantavirus vaccines, which use genetic material to trigger an immune response. One of the major challenges has been that Hantavirus cases are relatively rare and geographically sporadic, making efficacy trials difficult. Hantavirus vaccine research has largely focused on strains found in Asia rather than the Andes virus in the Americas, Dr. Most of the human vaccine data come from Asia and focus on 'Old World' Hantaviruses that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, particularly Hantaan virus and Seoul virus, rather than the 'New World' Hantaviruses like Andes.

Hantavirus exposure risk rises during activities like farming, forestry work and cleaning rodent-infested spaces. Current and future vaccines target high-risk groups rather than the general public, according to the World Health Organization. Hantaviruses spread from rodents to humans through droppings, urine, and saliva and less frequently, through bites or scratches. The overall risk for Hantavirus infection remains extremely low for most people, according to the CDC. There are currently no approved vaccines anywhere in the world that specifically protect against the Andes virus, but scientists are working on it.

Although we're focusing on Andes virus in this case, there are many Hantaviruses out there and they're all different from each other. We don't know enough about these viruses to really understand which of those agents poses a risk to humans and which don't." The CDC advises avoiding contact with rodent droppings, urine, saliva, and nesting materials. For example, in one early trial of 48 healthy adults, an Andes virus vaccine produced a strong immune response without major safety concerns, researchers writing in the Journal of Infectious Diseases reported in 2023. However, there are ongoing barriers to testing these vaccines more rigorously. Health experts stress that what's unfolding with passengers on the cruise ship is unlikely to morph into a global pandemic.