Join us today, 13 May 2026, 16:00 CEST

The recent MV Hondius cruise ship-associated Andes hantavirus outbreak has raised important questions across Europe. In response, ESICM is bringing together leading experts for the webinar: “From cruise ship to ICU: Hantavirus preparedness for Europe.”

This timely session aims to provide reassurance through science, preparedness, and expert collaboration. ICU specialists will discuss the current situation, the implications for hospitals and ICU preparedness, and, most importantly, practical insights into recognising and managing hantavirus infection in critically ill patients.

Do not miss this important discussion. The webinar will provide healthcare professionals with practical, evidence-based guidance helping on proper communication through preparedness rather than alarm.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this webinar, participants should be able to:

1. Explain the relevance of the cruise ship-associated Andes hantavirus outbreak for European hospitals and ICUs.
2. Recognise the clinical features of severe hantavirus disease, including fever, myalgia, gastrointestinal symptoms, thrombocytopenia, capillary leak, hypoxaemia, shock and acute kidney injury.
3. Identify when hantavirus should be included in the differential diagnosis, particularly after travel to endemic regions, rodent exposure, or close contact with a suspected or confirmed case.
4. Apply a practical ICU approach to severe hantavirus disease, including respiratory support, haemodynamic support, fluid strategy, renal replacement therapy and escalation to ECMO when indicated.
5. Describe the key infection prevention and diagnostic steps for suspected Andes hantavirus infection, including early communication with virology, infection prevention teams and public health authorities.

Speakers 

Introduction: Why this outbreak matters for intensive care
Maurizio CECCONI (ESICM Past-President) and Marlies OSTERMANN (ESICM President-Elect)

Emergency Preparedness and Response at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Perspective
Agoritsa BAKA
ECDC Principal Expert for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Stockholm (SE)

Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) Perspective
Margarida ALHO
Policy Officer at the European Commission DG HERA – Directorate-General for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, Brussels (BE)

The MV Hondius outbreak: current facts, uncertainties and European implications
Charlotte VAN DEN BERG
University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen (NL)

Hantavirus for intensivists: the syndrome behind the headlines
Pierre TATTEVIN
Rennes University Hospital, Rennes (FR)

The crashing patient: Managing Hantavirus infection in the ICU
Alejandro BRUHN
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago (CL)