Suggestions for prevention of this disease include policing the international movement of livestock and the screening of animal sera periodically.

Vaccines:

• No licensed vaccine for humans.  A human vaccine would be most appropriately administered to at-risk individuals such as lab personnel, slaughtermen, and veterinarians.
• Two vaccines for livestock: live attenuated and formalin inactivated.  These are best used only in particularly susceptible livestock populations.

As this disease is transmitted from mice to humans, rodent control is key to prevention in households.  However, there is a need for a vaccine because of the difficulty of controlling rodents in an agrarian setting.  Special precautions should be taken by laboratory personnel who handle rats.

Vaccine: Inactivated vaccine derived from suckling mouse brain was licensed for use in Korea in 1990.
Other research has shown that immunization with glycoproteins can elicit a neutralizing response.

Sin Nombre Virus--Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Possible prevention measures include:
1)  Education of the public regarding how to avoid contact with infectious material.
2)  Careful monitoring of rodent population density, either directly or through satellite photographs.
3)  Health advisories issued when such conditions are present.

No vaccine has been developed.

CDC Multimedia Page on Preventing Hantavirus
CDC Info on Hantavirus Prevention--downloadable brochure

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Recommendations for prevention include controlling ticks in domestic animals, spraying campsites and limited areas with acaricides, and use of tick repellent.  Control measures include barrier nursing and isolation of patients.

Vaccine: Derived from mouse brain.