British Scientists Develop Hantavirus Vaccine, What Are the Results?

Researchers are developing a novel vaccine to combat hantavirus. To date there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus, with infected patients typically receiving early medical management to improve chances of recovery.

Researchers at the University of Bath in England have been working on a new mRNA vaccine for the hantavirus strain Hantaan. The vaccine project began before the deadly outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus on board the cruise ship MV Hondius.

The mRNA vaccine is still in the research stage, but laboratory tests in animals have shown a promising immune response. ‘This is a genuinely new antigen and demonstrates very good immunogenicity against Hantaan disease. We hope this will become a suitable antigen to use in producing a hantaan virus vaccine in the future,’ said the researcher Asel Sartbaeva, quoted by Euro News, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

The question remains whether the same vaccine technology could ultimately help combat the Andes strain. Unfortunately, the researchers say the effectiveness of the vaccine against the Andes strain cannot yet be determined.