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Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak Sparks Urgent Vaccine Search
16 May
Summary
- Hantavirus has no cure, with treatments focusing on symptom management.
- Researchers are developing a vaccine, but rollout could take years.
- The virus can cause severe respiratory illness or kidney issues.
A recent luxury cruise ship outbreak has drawn attention to hantavirus, a serious disease transmitted through rodent droppings and urine. This virus, which has no cure and no specific treatment, can cause severe pulmonary syndrome in the Americas with a 40% mortality rate, or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Europe and Asia with a death rate of up to 12%.
Currently, medical care focuses on alleviating symptoms such as breathing difficulties, fever, and muscle pain through supportive therapies like oxygen and fluid replacement. Researchers worldwide are working on a vaccine, a process that has been historically underfunded due to a lack of commercial interest. Companies like EnsiliTech and Moderna, along with institutions like the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, are in early stages of development.
If successful, a vaccine could be available in three to four years, initially for those living in or traveling to high-risk areas. However, experts note that significant public health emergencies are often needed to accelerate vaccine development due to the lengthy, expensive, and complex process, which requires substantial backing and political will.
