Researchers at the University of Bath are developing a new hantavirus vaccine designed to remain stable without refrigeration, a breakthrough that could transform how vaccines are distributed globally.
The project is being led by Professor Asel Sartbaeva alongside biotech spinout Ensilitech.
The vaccine has already produced strong immune responses during laboratory and animal testing, with the research team now preparing for Phase 1 human clinical trials.
Scientists are combining mRNA vaccine technology with a patented stabilisation system known as Ensilication®, which protects vaccine ingredients inside microscopic silica shells.
The development comes as global attention returns to hantavirus following a recent outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius near the Canary Islands.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed that the outbreak is “not another COVID-19” and that the public health risk remains low despite several deaths and confirmed infections.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a family of viruses typically spread through exposure to infected rodents, particularly their urine, saliva, or droppings. Human infections are rare but potentially severe, causing illnesses that can attack the lungs or kidneys.
In the Americas, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is the most serious form of the disease. Patients initially develop flu-like symptoms, including fever, fatigue, headaches, and muscle pain, before rapidly progressing to breathing difficulties. Some strains carry fatality rates of more than 30%.
Unlike COVID-19, hantavirus generally does not spread easily between humans. However, the Andes strain linked to the recent cruise ship outbreak has shown limited human-to-human transmission in previous cases, prompting heightened monitoring from international health authorities.
The recent hantavirus outbreak explained
Concern over hantavirus intensified after an outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged expedition ship MV Hondius. The outbreak resulted in multiple infections and at least three deaths, triggering an international public health response involving Europe, the United States, and the WHO.
Passengers were evacuated under strict biosecurity measures after the vessel arrived near Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.
Several countries organised medical repatriation flights for their citizens, while US authorities transferred American passengers to specialist quarantine facilities in Nebraska for observation.
WHO officials repeatedly emphasised that the outbreak should not be compared to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation said hantavirus outbreaks tend to remain localised because transmission usually depends on close exposure rather than widespread airborne spread.
Still, the outbreak has renewed attention on the lack of a widely available hantavirus vaccine and the importance of rapid-response vaccine technologies.
Why this hantavirus vaccine could be different
The experimental hantavirus vaccine being developed at the University of Bath combines two major technologies: mRNA science and thermal stabilisation through Ensilication®.
The mRNA platform works by teaching the immune system to recognise viral proteins and build protective immune responses without using live virus material. Similar approaches were used successfully during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What sets this vaccine apart is its ability to remain stable at ambient temperatures. Ensilication® protects fragile biological ingredients inside silica-based coatings, helping prevent degradation caused by heat or transport conditions.
That could remove the need for expensive refrigerated supply chains that currently dominate global vaccine distribution.
Today, many vaccines must be stored and transported at tightly controlled temperatures. When refrigeration systems fail, entire batches can become unusable.
According to figures highlighted by the research team, cold chain failures cost the pharmaceutical industry an estimated £35bn each year.
The WHO has also reported that up to 50% of vaccines may be wasted in some developing regions because reliable refrigeration infrastructure is unavailable.
Researchers believe a thermostable hantavirus vaccine could dramatically improve access in remote regions, disaster zones, and lower-income countries where maintaining ultra-cold storage is difficult.
Professor Sartbaeva commented: “Currently, there is no effective vaccine against hantaviruses, leaving large populations in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America vulnerable to diseases that originate and are transmitted by rodents.
“Our team has developed a new antigen against Hantaan disease, from the hantavirus group.
This is a completely new vaccine that has now been tested in the laboratory and in animal models, indicating excellent immune response.
“While more work needs to be done to bring this vaccine to the public, this is a very promising development of a completely new and needed vaccine.”
Human trials are the next key step
The University of Bath team says preclinical studies have generated “excellent” immune responses in both laboratory testing and animal models. The next stage will involve Phase 1 human trials focused on safety and immune response evaluation.
If successful, the technology could extend beyond hantavirus alone. Scientists believe the same stabilisation platform may eventually be adapted for other vaccines and biologic medicines that currently require refrigeration during transport.
As health systems continue searching for more resilient vaccine technologies after the lessons of COVID-19, the University of Bath’s hantavirus vaccine project may become an important test case for the future of global immunisation.
Team Health Accessible
Health & Wellness Editorial Team
HealthAccessible editorial team delivers trusted, accessible, and evidence-based health information for everyone.
