A rare but deadly rodent-borne virus recently struck passengers on a cruise ship, exposing a critical gap in global health preparedness: despite being a known threat for decades, there are no treatments or vaccines for hantavirus.
Unlike a novel pathogen, this family of viruses has been understood for decades and is thought to exist worldwide. Teams of researchers, including those in Chile, Argentina, and the United States, have long pursued drugs and vaccines. However, the relative rarity of hantaviruses and their limited human-to-human transmission have historically deterred sustained investment from governments, global health organisations, and pharmaceutical companies. This lack of funding has prevented the extensive safety and efficacy testing required to make treatments widely available.
