An international scientific group has intensified efforts to develop a vaccine against hantavirus. The process came into the spotlight following an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean, which claimed the lives of three people. According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO), there are eight cases of hantavirus among the ship’s passengers (three confirmed and five suspected).
While the virus is primarily transmitted by rodents, person-to-person transmission is rare and the risk to the public remains low at this stage; however, the severity of the disease presents a significant problem. To date, there is no specific treatment for hantavirus. In cases of infection, the condition deteriorates rapidly, and patients require intensive care, including continuous oxygen supply, mechanical ventilation, and sometimes even dialysis. Therefore, developing a vaccine remains the only reliable method of prevention.
In response to this challenge, a global consortium has been formed, uniting scientists from three different continents. The primary medical component against the virus—the antigen—was developed by researchers in Texas, USA. This antigen serves as the biological “weapon” that trains the human immune system to recognize and destroy the virus. During the research and development phase, the South African biotechnology company Afrigen is also involved, providing the manufacturing process.
The main innovation, which completely changes the rules for storage and transportation, is being led by the British side. Professor Asel Sartbaeva, a chemist at the University of Bath, is working with her team on the Texas-developed antigen using a technology called ensilication. Most traditional vaccines require a “cold chain”—constant refrigeration during transport—which creates serious logistical hurdles. This new method involves coating the sensitive biological vaccine with an ultra-thin layer of inorganic material (silicates), making it thermostable.
As Professor Sartbaeva explains, this protective shell, developed over 15 years of research, makes the vaccine resistant to extreme temperature fluctuations. The drug no longer requires expensive refrigeration equipment, which will significantly simplify logistics and make it entirely possible to deliver the vaccine to remote, hard-to-reach areas or crisis zones—even via aircraft and drones.
