2026-05-11
How can hantaviruses be stopped?
Infectiology
By Ana Espino | Published on
May 11, 2026 | 4 min read
Hantaviruses are zoonotic, single-stranded, segmented, negative-sense RNA viruses belonging to the Hantaviridae family. They are primarily transmitted to humans by rodents through inhalation of aerosols contaminated with urine, feces, or saliva. These viruses cause two major syndromes: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary or cardiopulmonary syndrome (HPS/HCPS). These infections represent an emerging public health threat, with more than 200,000 cases reported worldwide each year. Current management mainly relies on supportive care: hospitalization, intensive care, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, hemofiltration, dialysis, and correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalances depending on pulmonary or renal involvement. Ribavirin is one of the few antivirals used, but its effectiveness appears to depend largely on very early administration. To date, there is no globally approved specific antiviral treatment or vaccine against hantavirus infections.
An additional challenge lies in the diversity of hantaviruses, their zoonotic transmission, the variability of clinical presentations, and the potential severity of pulmonary or renal forms. Another major challenge is therapeutic. Several approaches have shown promise in laboratory or animal studies, but their effectiveness in humans remains insufficiently demonstrated. Strategies such as siRNA therapies, neutralizing antibodies, and certain antivirals still face limitations related to stability, in vivo targeting, safety, standardization, and large-scale production.
The aim of this review is to present current knowledge on hantavirus infections and summarize recent therapeutic advances. The authors focus particularly on antivirals, therapies targeting viral entry or replication, RNA interference approaches, immunotherapy, and vaccine candidates capable of reducing disease progression and the risk of severe forms.
This article examined several dimensions of hantavirus infection: epidemiology, viral structure, pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical management, antiviral treatments, immunotherapy, and vaccines under development. The data discussed come from in vitro studies, animal models, preclinical research, clinical trials, human observations, and multicenter epidemiological data.
The article shows that hantaviruses primarily infect endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, especially in the lungs and kidneys. This infection triggers a strong inflammatory response and disrupts vascular permeability. Fluids leak more easily into tissues, contributing to pulmonary edema, renal injury, and severe forms of the disease.
Several therapeutic strategies were investigated. A first approach consists of preventing the virus from entering cells. Molecules such as lactoferrin, griffithsin, or certain peptides may block viral attachment or penetration into host cells. However, these treatments appear to be most effective when administered very early, before the infection becomes advanced.
Another strategy aims to limit viral replication. Molecules such as ribavirin, favipiravir, ETAR, or baloxavir acid act on viral replication or on enzymes required for the viral life cycle. These treatments have shown encouraging results in experimental models, but their efficacy appears more limited once infection is advanced.
RNA interference therapies (siRNA) have also been investigated. These molecules directly target parts of the viral genome in order to reduce viral RNA production and replication. Although promising, this approach remains difficult to apply in humans, particularly because of the poor stability of siRNA molecules and the difficulty of targeting infected tissues.
Some strategies do not only aim to block the virus but also to limit the consequences of infection on the body. For example, vandetanib or icatibant may help reduce vascular hyperpermeability, which plays a central role in severe hantavirus complications. Finally, immunotherapy and vaccination appear to be major avenues of research.
Neutralizing antibodies have demonstrated protective effects in several animal models. Likewise, several vaccine candidates are under development. These approaches are promising but still require robust clinical studies to confirm their safety, efficacy, and usefulness in humans.
Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses transmitted mainly by rodents and responsible for severe syndromes affecting the kidneys or lungs. The major challenges in managing this disease include the absence of a validated specific treatment, the lack of an available vaccine, the need for very early intervention during infection, and the difficulty of translating preclinical findings into effective clinical solutions.
In this context, the objective of this study was to review therapeutic advances against hantavirus infections, including antivirals, immunological approaches, siRNA therapies, host-targeted treatments, and vaccine candidates. The data suggest that combined strategies appear to be the most promising. Effective management may involve a combination of early antiviral therapy, neutralizing antibodies, immunomodulatory approaches, and vaccines capable of preventing infection in high-risk areas.
Experimental results are encouraging, but they still need to be confirmed in humans. Future perspectives include the development of more effective and longer-lasting vaccines, improved siRNA delivery systems, clinical validation of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, and investigation of treatments combining antivirals with immunomodulators. The authors also highlight the importance of better targeting the inflammatory and vascular mechanisms responsible for the severity of HFRS and HPS/HCPS.
Read next : Frozen pizza: the unexpected trap?
About the author – Ana Espino
PhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions
Hantaviruses are zoonotic, single-stranded, segmented, negative-sense RNA viruses belonging to the Hantaviridae family. They are primarily transmitted to humans by rodents through inhalation of aerosols contaminated with urine, feces, or saliva. These viruses cause two major syndromes: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary or cardiopulmonary syndrome (HPS/HCPS). These infections represent an emerging public health threat, with more than 200,000 cases reported worldwide each year. Current management mainly relies on supportive care: hospitalization, intensive care, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, hemofiltration, dialysis, and correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalances depending on pulmonary or renal involvement. Ribavirin is one of the few antivirals used, but its effectiveness appears to depend largely on very early administration. To date, there is no globally approved specific antiviral treatment or vaccine against hantavirus infections.
An additional challenge lies in the diversity of hantaviruses, their zoonotic transmission, the variability of clinical presentations, and the potential severity of pulmonary or renal forms. Another major challenge is therapeutic. Several approaches have shown promise in laboratory or animal studies, but their effectiveness in humans remains insufficiently demonstrated. Strategies such as siRNA therapies, neutralizing antibodies, and certain antivirals still face limitations related to stability, in vivo targeting, safety, standardization, and large-scale production.
The aim of this review is to present current knowledge on hantavirus infections and summarize recent therapeutic advances. The authors focus particularly on antivirals, therapies targeting viral entry or replication, RNA interference approaches, immunotherapy, and vaccine candidates capable of reducing disease progression and the risk of severe forms.
Hantavirus: Focus on Innovation
This article examined several dimensions of hantavirus infection: epidemiology, viral structure, pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical management, antiviral treatments, immunotherapy, and vaccines under development. The data discussed come from in vitro studies, animal models, preclinical research, clinical trials, human observations, and multicenter epidemiological data.
The article shows that hantaviruses primarily infect endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, especially in the lungs and kidneys. This infection triggers a strong inflammatory response and disrupts vascular permeability. Fluids leak more easily into tissues, contributing to pulmonary edema, renal injury, and severe forms of the disease.
Several therapeutic strategies were investigated. A first approach consists of preventing the virus from entering cells. Molecules such as lactoferrin, griffithsin, or certain peptides may block viral attachment or penetration into host cells. However, these treatments appear to be most effective when administered very early, before the infection becomes advanced.
Another strategy aims to limit viral replication. Molecules such as ribavirin, favipiravir, ETAR, or baloxavir acid act on viral replication or on enzymes required for the viral life cycle. These treatments have shown encouraging results in experimental models, but their efficacy appears more limited once infection is advanced.
RNA interference therapies (siRNA) have also been investigated. These molecules directly target parts of the viral genome in order to reduce viral RNA production and replication. Although promising, this approach remains difficult to apply in humans, particularly because of the poor stability of siRNA molecules and the difficulty of targeting infected tissues.
Some strategies do not only aim to block the virus but also to limit the consequences of infection on the body. For example, vandetanib or icatibant may help reduce vascular hyperpermeability, which plays a central role in severe hantavirus complications. Finally, immunotherapy and vaccination appear to be major avenues of research.
Neutralizing antibodies have demonstrated protective effects in several animal models. Likewise, several vaccine candidates are under development. These approaches are promising but still require robust clinical studies to confirm their safety, efficacy, and usefulness in humans.
Toward defeating Hantaviruses ?
Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses transmitted mainly by rodents and responsible for severe syndromes affecting the kidneys or lungs. The major challenges in managing this disease include the absence of a validated specific treatment, the lack of an available vaccine, the need for very early intervention during infection, and the difficulty of translating preclinical findings into effective clinical solutions.
In this context, the objective of this study was to review therapeutic advances against hantavirus infections, including antivirals, immunological approaches, siRNA therapies, host-targeted treatments, and vaccine candidates. The data suggest that combined strategies appear to be the most promising. Effective management may involve a combination of early antiviral therapy, neutralizing antibodies, immunomodulatory approaches, and vaccines capable of preventing infection in high-risk areas.
Experimental results are encouraging, but they still need to be confirmed in humans. Future perspectives include the development of more effective and longer-lasting vaccines, improved siRNA delivery systems, clinical validation of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, and investigation of treatments combining antivirals with immunomodulators. The authors also highlight the importance of better targeting the inflammatory and vascular mechanisms responsible for the severity of HFRS and HPS/HCPS.
Read next : Frozen pizza: the unexpected trap?
About the author – Ana Espino
PhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions
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