ONWARD Takes the Stage at ESCMID Global 2026 — The World’s Largest Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Congress
ONWARD reached one of its most prominent international audiences to date at ESCMID Global 2026, held in Munich, Germany, from 17 to 21 April 2026. With more than 17,000 participants from over 130 countries, ESCMID Global stands as the largest infectious diseases and clinical microbiology congress in the world — a true crossroads of clinical microbiology, public health and largest infectious diseases.
ONWARD contributed to the scientific programme with an oral presentation delivered by Dr. İmran Hasanoğlu on behalf of the network, in front of a packed auditorium of clinicians, microbiologists and infectious disease specialists. The talk positioned zoonotic hepeviruses firmly on the European infectious diseases agenda and made the case that HEV and Rocahepevirus ratti can no longer be treated as peripheral concerns.
The network’s presence at the congress was further reinforced within the dedicated session “Europe’s Overlooked Threat: The Rise of Zoonotic Hepatitis E”, where ONWARD chair Dr. Antonio Rivero-Juárez delivered a compelling talk titled “The rise of rat HEV: a new zoonotic hepevirus”. Speaking to a highly engaged audience, he laid out the emerging clinical and epidemiological challenge posed by Rocahepevirus ratti and the urgent need for a coordinated European response — exactly the gap ONWARD has been built to address. Having an entire ESCMID session devoted to zoonotic hepatitis E, with strong ONWARD representation, was a powerful signal that hepeviruses are finally moving from the margins to the centre of the European infectious diseases conversation.
We thank the ESCMID Global community for the warm welcome in Munich and the many colleagues who reached out to learn more about ONWARD. The conversations started here will shape several of the network’s next steps — and we look forward to continuing them in the months ahead.
