Could we stop the next pandemic by vaccinating the wild?

Health · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most vaccines require humans to seek them out. But what if we could create a vaccine that spreads naturally through a wild population? By studying vampire bats in the Amazon, scientists are developing a way to interrupt disease cycles before they ever jump to humans.

The primary challenge in preventing zoonotic diseases—pathogens that jump from animals to humans—is reaching remote and reclusive wildlife. Traditional vaccination methods fail when animals live in inaccessible locations or have diets that make bait delivery impossible. To solve this, researchers like Daniel Streicker are exploring 'transmissible vaccines.' This biotechnology involves genetically modifying a naturally occurring, nonpathogenic virus to express antigens from a dangerous pathogen while retaining its ability to spread naturally between hosts.

A promising candidate for this approach is the Desmodus rotundus betaherpesvirus (DrBHV) found in vampire bats. This virus is a potential vector for a vaccine targeting rabies, a major source of disease in Latin America. Using six years of prevalence data from 36 different strains and locations, researchers determined that DrBHV has a high R0 of 6.9. It also features cycles of latency and reactivation, which are essential properties for a vaccine that can provide lifelong, self-boosting immunity across a wild population.

The implications for pandemic prevention are significant. Models indicate that vaccinating merely one bat using a rabies vaccine delivered via DrBHV might provide immunity for more than 80% of the colony. This approach has the potential to decrease the length, occurrence, and scale of rabies epidemics by 50% to 95%. By disrupting the virus circulation within these wildlife reservoirs, scientists aim to cut off the next pandemic at its source, protecting both human health and economic livelihoods.

While the loss of infectious vaccine in individuals over time is expected, the high transmissibility of the DrBHV vector allows for high coverage. This research moves us closer to a proactive defense model where we don't just react to outbreaks, but actively manage the epidemiological dynamics of the viruses that threaten us.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

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