90-Second Read: Scientists track single-dose vaccines for Andes Hantavirus strain

In a study published in The Lancet, researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) report the development of new vaccines that, in animal testing, provided full protection against the deadly Andes Hantavirus after a single dose. Alexander Bukreyev, Ph.D., head of the Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development at UTMB, said that with backing from the National Institutes of Health, UTMB is working to fast-track these single-dose vaccines into human clinical trials. Other Hantaviruses are typically spread through contact with infected rodents, making the Andes virus a much more significant public health threat.

The Hantavirus drew public attention in May following an outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which had departed from Argentina. While at sea, the outbreak spread among passengers and crew, infecting 13 people and killing three. The Andes virus belongs to the Hantavirus family, but unlike its viral cousins, it can spread directly from person to person through coughing and close contact.

Recognizing that a fast-moving international outbreak doesn't allow time for patients to wait weeks between shots, the team retested the vaccines to determine whether a single dose would be effective. When testing the vaccines in an animal model that mimics human disease, the scientists found that a single shot provided 100% protection against a lethal dose of the virus. The cruise passengers have since returned to their home countries, scattering across 23 nations.