Is China's approved Hantavirus vaccine effective against virus infection on cruise ships? Experts interpret.

Zhao Wei, director of the Biosecurity Research Center at the School of Public Health of the Southern Medical University, introduced that the approved vaccines for Hanta virus in China mainly target the Asian type of Hanta virus, not the Andes type that recently caused the cruise ship outbreak. Additionally, China has no cases of the Andes type of Hanta virus, so it does not have the conditions to conduct corresponding clinical evaluations. Therefore, there is currently no clinical data proving whether the approved vaccines in China can provide cross-protection against the Andes type of Hanta virus. "The approved Hanta virus vaccines in China are only suitable for high-risk individuals aged 16 to 60. The regions in China where Hanta virus outbreaks exist are limited, including some parts of rural or semi-rural and semi-pastoral areas in Northeast, North, and Northwest China." Zhao Wei further explained that field workers, Hanta virus prevention personnel, and other high-risk individuals in occupations related to endemic areas are priority vaccination recipients, as they have a higher risk of exposure to rodents or their excreta.