Researchers are developing a new vaccine for a strain of hantavirus after a deadly outbreak on board a cruise ship raises fears about whether emerging viral threats could spark another pandemic.
The outbreak, which struck passengers on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, was caused by the Andes virus, one strain within the wider hantavirus group.
No vaccines or specific treatments exist for the virus at the moment, but health officials have said early medical support can improve survival.
Researchers at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom had already been working on a new mRNA vaccine for another strain of hantavirus called Hantaan, before the outbreak.
The research team says the vaccine is new, and laboratory tests in animals have shown promising results.
