Prepared by the WFSA Disaster Planning Working Group, comprising anaesthesiologists from Member Societies across the globe, this advisory highlights the specialty’s vital contributions to disaster preparedness and response.
Recent international outbreaks of hantavirus infection linked to cruise ship travel have highlighted the growing importance of infectious disease preparedness and awareness across healthcare systems worldwide. As confirmed and suspected cases emerged across multiple countries following international travel, the event underscored how rapidly infectious diseases can cross borders and place pressure on healthcare services, surveillance systems, and frontline clinicians.
In response, the WFSA Disaster Planning Working Group has developed a new advisory document, Hantavirus: What Anaesthesiologists Should Know, to support anaesthesiologists and critical care teams in understanding the clinical and perioperative implications of hantavirus infection.
The advisory outlines the epidemiology, clinical presentation, transmission characteristics, diagnosis, and current management considerations associated with hantavirus infection, including the Andes virus strain, which is known to spread from person to person. It also highlights key considerations for anaesthesiologists involved in airway management, invasive monitoring, critical care support, infection prevention, and aerosol-generating procedures.
As infectious disease events continue to evolve globally, anaesthesiologists may increasingly encounter patients with suspected infections outside traditionally recognised endemic regions. This resource aims to support preparedness, promote awareness of enhanced infection prevention measures, and reinforce the vital role anaesthesiologists play in disaster response and critical care management.
