Scientists from the University of Bath are racing to develop a vaccine against hantavirus, a disease suspected of claiming three lives aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The team has successfully created a new antigen targeting Hantaan disease, a strain of hantavirus.
Hantaviruses are carried by rodents like mice and rats and spread through their droppings and urine. Person-to-person transmission remains uncommon, and both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirm the risk to the general public is low. Currently, no vaccine or dedicated antiviral treatment exists for hantavirus infections. Treatment is supportive and symptom-based, including hospital care and respiratory support, according to UKHSA.
Most vaccines require sub-zero transport, but Professor Asel Sartbaeva and her team at EnsiliTech—a Bristol-based startup spun out from the University of Bath in July 2022—are pioneering a technique called ensilication. This ensilicated mRNA platform eliminates the need for cold storage, potentially transforming global vaccine distribution. Work on the vaccine began before the MV Hondius outbreak.
Professor Sartbaeva, a chemistry researcher at the University and co-founder of EnsiliTech, said: "Currently there is no effective vaccine against Hanta viruses, leaving large populations in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America vulnerable to rodent-borne diseases. Our team has developed a new antigen against Hantaan disease. This is a completely new vaccine that has been tested in the lab and in animal models, showing an excellent immune response. While more work is needed for clinical trials and approvals, this is a very promising development."
Hantaviruses are widespread globally, with cases in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They can cause mild flu-like symptoms to severe respiratory illness. Last month, the MV Hondius cruise ship departed Argentina, and three passengers died following an outbreak of the Andes hantavirus strain. The WHO confirmed this does not signal a pandemic, though the outbreak source remains unknown. As of the latest update, eight cases—three confirmed and five suspected—have been identified among those aboard.
