Is there a hantavirus vaccine?

There is no hantavirus vaccine licensed in the United States, European Union, or by the WHO. Two regional exceptions exist and one promising new generation is in clinical trials.

Currently used regionally

• China — inactivated bivalent Hantaan + Seoul vaccines (e.g. Hantavax-derived, Chinese-domestic) have been administered to tens of millions of people in HFRS-endemic provinces since the late 1990s. Effectiveness against severe HFRS is estimated at 90%+ but durability is short (boosters at 1 year and 5–10 years).
• South Korea — Hantavax (Greencross), an inactivated Hantaan vaccine, has been licensed since 1990 and is recommended for military, agricultural and laboratory workers.

In development

Several DNA-vaccine and mRNA candidates targeting Andes virus and Sin Nombre virus are in phase-1 / phase-2 trials. Monoclonal antibodies for post-exposure prophylaxis and rescue therapy in severe HPS have been evaluated in compassionate-use settings; none is licensed.

What this means for travellers

For travel to ANDV-endemic Patagonia, SNV-endemic Four Corners, or Puumala-endemic Fennoscandia, vaccination is not an option. Risk is managed by avoiding rodent-infested cabins, using the CDC clean-up protocol, and seeking medical care promptly if prodromal symptoms develop.