health
mRNA: How the technology that saved us from COVID is now tackling Hantavirus
Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which proved capable of producing effective vaccines against COVID in a matter of months during the pandemic, is now confronting Hantavirus, a pathogen known for decades but lacking authorized vaccines in the West, and featuring an American variant that can be fatal to four out of ten infected individuals.
TL;DR
- mRNA technology, which rapidly produced effective COVID-19 vaccines, is now targeting Hantavirus.
- There are currently no authorized Hantavirus vaccines in Western countries.
- An American variant of Hantavirus has a mortality rate of 40%.
- Biotechnology company Moderna is developing an mRNA vaccine for Hantavirus in partnership with VIC-K since September 2023.
- The project's visibility increased due to a recent outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.