Scientists are working on a hantavirus vaccine — but it’s likely years away

A hantavirus vaccine is currently in preclinical development, but a publicly available shot is likely years away. Other similar research efforts are also in the very early stages.

The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship brings a new focus to efforts to develop a vaccine to prevent the virus.

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Experts say hantavirus vaccine efforts have repeatedly stalled, in part because outbreaks tend to occur sporadically and disproportionately affect poorer countries where there is less incentive for drugmakers to invest.

“Our funding agencies don’t put a lot of money into this, because it’s likely not to cause the next epidemic or pandemic,” said Sabra Klein, a professor in the molecular microbiology and immunology department at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “But these are hemorrhagic fever viruses, so when they occur, they’re scary, and they do wreak havoc.”