Summary
Following a significant decline in influenza activity, the flu epidemic in Austria has come to an end, with only sporadic cases still being detected. RSV detections remain elevated, while SARS-CoV-2 is circulating at low levels.
On 9 March, an update on cereulide in infant formula was published on the AGES website. As of 4 March 2026, 13 cases of illness in infants caused by cereulide had been reported in Austria's epidemiological reporting system.
Following England, India has now also reported a case of recombinant mpox virus from clades Ib and IIb. In Austria, mpox cases from clade Ib have been recorded for the first time since February.
Since the end of 2025, there has been an increase in cases of chikungunya virus disease in Austria and other EU Member States among travellers returning from the Seychelles.
What can rabbits, ticks and humans share? In this month's topic, we take a closer look at the bacterium Francisella tularensis and the disease it causes, tularemia.
In the news: Chile is officially recognised as the second country in the world to be free of leprosy. Denmark is the first country in the EU to eliminate vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis. The annual reports of the National Reference Centres for Pneumococcal and Legionella Infections, as well as the Mosquito Alert annual report, have been published. Germany reported a case of rabies in an imported dog with contact to a dog in Austria, and measures have been taken.
influenza
The flu epidemic in Austria has come to an end. After influenza detections in the sentinel system declined steadily over the past few weeks, the positivity rate fell below the epidemiological threshold of 10% in calendar week (CW) 8. By the beginning of March, only isolated cases were detected. AGES wastewater monitoring now shows no evidence of influenza viruses.
The influenza cases were almost exclusively influenza A, subtypes A(H3N2) and A(H1N1). Influenza B was detected in only 1% of all samples. Hospital admissions for influenza have been declining since the beginning of the year: at the beginning of January, 863 admissions per week were recorded in normal wards, while at the end of February the figure was only 49. As corrections and late reports are to be expected on an ongoing basis, the data may still change.
In most countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA), influenza circulation is declining, as are hospital admissions. People over the age of 65 account for the majority of admissions. A(H3) remains the dominant subtype, followed by A(H1)pdm09.
The best preventive measure against severe influenza is the annual flu vaccination. In Austria, vaccination against influenza (real flu) is recommended from the age of 6 months and is available free of charge for all age groups in the public vaccination programme. Vaccination is particularly important for people with health risks for severe disease progression and their contacts/household contacts, as well as for people who have an increased risk of infection due to their living circumstances (including pregnant women) or occupation. A nasal vaccine is available specifically for children. Ideally, the influenza vaccination should be administered in mid-October or November before the start of the flu season. Details can be found at www.impfen.gv.at/influenza and in the current Austrian vaccination schedule for 2025/2026.
In episode 003 – Influenza & Co: How can I safely navigate the flu season? of the AGES podcast "Mut zum Risiko" (Courage to take risks), infection epidemiologist Fiona Költringer explains what the flu is all about and how best to protect yourself against it.
RSV
In recent weeks, evidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the sentinel surveillance system has been at a high level. Since the end of January, the rate of samples testing positive for RSV has been above 10% and has been steadily increasing. At the end of February, it reached just under 30%.
Hospital admissions with RSV infections rose sharply until mid-February, with 321 admissions to normal wards in calendar week 7, more than twice as many as three weeks earlier. Since then, they appear to be declining again. In wastewater, the proportion of samples with detectable results rose until the end of February. In the meantime, a decline in detections has been recorded.
In the rest of the EU and the EEA, RSV circulation is high but is slowly beginning to decline. Hospital admissions appear to have peaked overall, except for children under five, who continue to account for the majority of admissions.
Children under five and people over 65 are at particularly high risk of developing severe RSV infection. Vaccination is therefore recommended from the age of 60.
There is currently no approved RSV vaccine for active immunisation in children. However, monoclonal antibodies are available for passive immunisation: Beyfortus (nirsevimab) is approved and recommended for the prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease in newborns, infants and young children during their first RSV season, as well as in children up to 24 months of age who remain susceptible to severe RSV disease during their second RSV season. It is available free of charge as part of the federal, state and social security children's vaccination programme. A vaccine for pregnant women is also approved for passive immunisation of children. The RSV vaccine is recommended for adults aged 60 and over, as well as people aged 18 and over who are at increased risk, to protect the vaccinated person against RSV infections/diseases.
Further information on vaccinations is available at RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) | Vaccination simply protects. and in the current 2025/2026 vaccination schedule.
In the Sentinel system, the proportion of samples testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 was low at the beginning of March, at around 4%. The positivity rate has remained at this low level since the beginning of January. The viral load in wastewater remains consistently low.
The number of hospital admissions due to severe acute respiratory infections caused by COVID-19 has been declining steadily since the beginning of the year. In calendar week 8, 61 admissions to normal wards were recorded – at the end of December, the figure was 334.
In the EU and EEA, SARS CoV-2 is circulating at low levels in all age groups, with only a few hospitalisations reported.
The COVID-19 vaccination is available free of charge in Austria and is recommended for everyone aged 12 and over who wishes to reduce the risk of a potentially severe course of the disease. More information on vaccination and the indications can be found in the Austrian Vaccination Schedule 2025/2026 or at COVID-19 | Vaccination simply protects.
On 9 March 2026, an update on cereulide in infant formula was published on the AGES website. In Austria, 14 cases of illness in infants have been reported to date, three of which are considered confirmed. All children have since recovered (as of 12 March 2026).
In addition to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom have also reported cases of gastrointestinal symptoms in infants after consuming infant formula, which are currently being investigated (ECDC, as of 13 February 2026). The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an outbreak assessment on 19 February 2026: Due to the large-scale recalls, the current probability of exposure to contaminated infant formula is considered low. The recalls are still ongoing and investigations at national level are continuing.
AGES examined 160 samples from various manufacturers and detected cereulide in 27 samples (as of 9 March 2026). Most of the values are well below the reference value determined by the EFSA. All affected products have already been recalled. Thanks to the analysis method established at AGES many years ago, Austria was the first country in the EU to discover samples contaminated with cereulide. The update on the AGES website provides current figures, information on case definition and cereulide analysis.
All infant formula recalls can be found at: Infant formula: All recalls at a glance – AGES
After England identified a new recombinant mpox virus (MPXV) in a person in December, India also reported a mpox case in January involving a recombinant MPXV from clades Ib and IIb. Analysis of the virus genomes shows that the two individuals contracted the same recombinant virus strain several weeks apart. This suggests that there may be other, unknown cases. Both cases have a travel history, albeit to different locations. The English case travelled to Southeast Asia in October 2025, while the Indian case developed symptoms in September 2025 after visiting the Arabian Peninsula.
Contact tracing has been completed: to date, no secondary transmissions from these cases or further cases of this recombinant strain have been documented in other parts of the world. There is also no evidence that this recombinant strain is more transmissible or causes more severe disease. Both cases had a similar clinical presentation to that observed in other known clades. Neither patient developed severe disease.
Recombination is a known natural process that can occur when two related viruses infecting the same person exchange genetic material, resulting in a new virus.
Since 23 May 2022, a total of 393 mpox cases have been registered in Austria. So far in 2026, six cases of mpox have been reported, including five cases of clade Ib for the first time in February and March. (As of 9 March 2026) Since the outbreak began in 2022, only cases of clade II had previously been detected in Austria.
Mpox is mainly transmitted through close (sexual) contact, especially through direct contact with skin lesions (blisters, scabs, etc.). The available mpox vaccination is recommended exclusively for people at risk, such as those with individual risk behaviours (people with frequently changing sexual partners). To prevent infection after contact with a person infected with mpox, post-exposure vaccination is available and recommended regardless of age. The vaccine is not available on the open market in Austria and is only offered free of charge at selected vaccination centres in the federal states.
Communicable disease threats report, 14 - 20 February 2026, week 8
Mpox: recombinant virus with genomic elements of clades Ib and IIb – Global situation
Mpox | Vaccination simply protects.
Since November 2025, several European countries have reported an increase in chikungunya virus cases among travellers returning from the Seychelles. The reports represent a significant increase and indicate sustained high-level transmission in that country. Prior to 2025, no chikungunya cases linked to the Seychelles were reported in the EU or EEA.
The occurrence of chikungunya virus disease in the Seychelles coincides with regional spread across several islands in the Indian Ocean. There is currently increased activity of the chikungunya virus in this area, with cases reported from Mauritius, the Comoros, La Réunion and Mayotte. According to local health authorities, the chikungunya virus is currently more widespread in the Seychelles than other vector-borne viruses. Infections with dengue and Zika viruses also occur, but currently at a lower level.
The cases reported in Austria also reflect this situation. Of the 24 cases registered by the end of February this year, all 22 cases where the place of infection could be determined were infected with the Chikungunya virus in the Seychelles (EMS data status: 11 March 2026). In the whole of the previous year, only 26 probable and confirmed cases of chikungunya virus disease were registered in Austria. The places of infection were reported as Cuba (seven cases), the Seychelles (five cases), Mauritius, Bangladesh (three cases each), Sri Lanka, La Réunion, India (two cases each), and Indonesia and the Philippines (one case each).
The ECDC classifies the risk of chikungunya virus infection for travellers from Europe to the Seychelles as high and recommends increased protective measures against mosquito bites during their stay. These include the use of mosquito repellents, sleeping under mosquito nets or in rooms with air conditioning and mosquito screens, and wearing light-coloured clothing that covers as much of the body as possible. Vaccination may also be considered, depending on country-specific recommendations.
The European Commission has approved the vaccines Ixchiq and Vimkunya for use against chikungunya in people aged 12 and over, and according to the Austrian vaccination schedule, they are recommended for travellers to endemic areas, people at epidemiological risk and exposed laboratory staff. Details can be found in the Austrian vaccination schedule 2025/2026.
More information on mosquitoes can be found at Info on mosquitoes & diseases - AGES
It's that time of year again: we are seeing the first warmer days, spring is just around the corner and so are the ticks. Although ticks can now be active all year round in Austria, their activity increases from March onwards.
Vector monitoring plays an important role at AGES and is being expanded step by step. As part of EU projects such as RAISE (Reinforcing Austrian Integrated Surveillance and Epidemiology) and United for Surveillance (U4S), ticks are tested for various pathogens, including Francisella tularensis, the pathogen that causes tularemia.
Interesting facts about the pathogen and the disease
Tularemia is a notifiable infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Francisella tularensis is found in a variety of animals (rabbits, ticks, mosquitoes, etc.), in humans and in the environment.
One of the characteristics of this bacterium is that
- it is very resistant: it can survive for weeks or months in the environment and thus lead to infection in humans through contact with contaminated water or soil
- it is highly infectious: even small concentrations of the bacterium are sufficient to cause infection in humans
- it is not only transmitted via animals and vectors, but can also be inhaled via the air (bacteria on air particles), giving it high bioterrorism potential
These are all very good reasons to take a closer look at it.
Francisella tularensis has several subtypes that have different global distributions. It is mainly found in the northern hemisphere and does not normally occur in the tropics or the southern hemisphere. Four subspecies are currently known:
- Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis (type A), the most virulent subspecies, which occurs only in North America, mainly in lagomorphs, and is transmitted to humans mainly by ticks or biting flies or through direct contact with infected animals
- Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica (type B), the most widespread subspecies. It occurs mainly in aquatic rodents (beavers, muskrats) and voles in North America, as well as in lagomorphs (hares) and rodents in Eurasia, and causes less severe symptoms in humans than type A; only type B is prevalent in Austria
- Francisella tularensis subsp. mediasiatica, primarily found in Central Asia
- Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida, the least virulent subspecies
F. tularensis occurs in our latitudes mainly in hares and rodents. However, the pathogen has also been found in a variety of other mammals, as well as in birds, fish, amphibians, arthropods and protozoa. Blood-sucking arthropods, such as mosquitoes and ticks, play an important role in both the preservation of F. tularensis in nature and the transmission of the disease caused by F. tularensis. Tularemia is a zoonosis, i.e. a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Mosquitoes and ticks not only act as a natural reservoir for the bacteria, but also as a transport vehicle (vector).
The most common routes of transmission of F. tularensis to humans are:
- Direct contact with infected animals, especially hares. Infection can occur through skin or mucous membrane contact with infectious animal material. Inhalation of infectious dust – for example from soil, straw, hay or animal fur (e.g. when skinning hares) – is also possible.
- Stings or bites from arthropods, especially ticks or mosquitoes
- Contact with contaminated water or soil
Human-to-human transmission has not yet been reported.
In Europe, only the subtype Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica (type B) causes the disease tularemia. Two life cycles of type B have been described to date. In the terrestrial cycle, the pathogen is mainly spread by hares, small rodents and ticks. Humans usually become infected through contact with infected animals, their meat or through tick bites. Cases tend to occur sporadically or in small outbreaks during the hunting season and lead to feverish symptoms, often accompanied by skin lesions (ulceroglandular form) or swollen lymph nodes (glandular form). In the aquatic cycle, on the other hand, the pathogen circulates in aquatic ecosystems and semi-aquatic rodents (e.g. beavers). Transmission to humans occurs primarily via contaminated drinking water or mosquito bites. This often leads to larger outbreaks in the summer, typically with diseases of the mouth and throat (oropharyngeal form) or – in the case of mosquitoes – also ulceroglandular forms (Maurin & Gyuranecz, 2016).
Severe forms with lung involvement (pulmonary form) can occur in Europe in both cycles, e.g. after inhalation of dust or water droplets containing the pathogen. Table 1 compares the two life cycles:
| Characteristics | Terrestrial cycle | Aquatic cycle |
| Main reservoirs | Hares, rodents, ticks | Water, semi-aquatic rodents, mosquitoes |
| Frequent transmission | Tick bite, animal contact | Contaminated water, mosquitoes |
| Typical cases | Sporadic, small clusters | Large outbreaks |
| Clinical forms | Ulceroglandular, glandular | Oropharyngeal, (in mosquitoes: ulceroglandular |
| Typical regions | Central & western EU | Scandinavia, Balkans, Turkey |
In humans, the incubation period is usually around 3 to 5 days, but can last up to 14 days. Tularemia presents with a wide variety of symptoms. Common symptoms include fever, headache, aching limbs and painful swelling of the regional lymph nodes. After a few days, localised ulcers may also develop at the site of entry of the pathogen. Depending on the type and route of transmission of the infection, different courses of the disease may occur with additional symptoms such as sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, pneumonia or abdominal pain.
Timely antibiotic treatment is highly effective; there is currently no vaccine available.
Groups of people who spend a lot of time outdoors, such as rural populations, hunters, forest workers, etc., are at increased risk of coming into contact with F. tularensis. As there is no vaccination, the following measures are recommended:
- Use insect repellent
- Wear gloves when handling sick or dead animals. Hares that have just been killed or found dead must not be skinned, but should only be touched with gloves and immediately packed securely.
- Avoid mowing over dead animals
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in reported cases of tularemia in Austria (see Figure 1). Other European countries are also reporting rising case numbers. A specific cause for the increase in the disease has not yet been clearly identified. Possible explanations under discussion include an increased case detection rate due to more sensitive diagnostics, the effects of the climate crisis on the natural reservoirs, vectors and host animals of F. tularensis, and changes in personal behaviour (e.g. increased leisure activities in nature) associated with an increased risk of exposure.
Not only is the surveillance of hares important, but also that of ticks.
The testing of brown hares for tularemia has a long tradition in Austria, with cases already detected in central and southern Burgenland and neighbouring Styria in 1937. This marked the beginning of sporadic testing, which was later followed by various projects. Since 2010, hares suspected of having tularemia have been sent in for testing on a regular basis, and positive cases are now also reported on the AGES website. Human cases of the disease are recorded in the Epidemiological Reporting System (EMS). Many human cases in Austria can be traced back to contact with wild animals. However, a study conducted in 2022 by AGES colleagues, among others, shows that ticks have been underestimated as carriers of the disease. It describes three cases of bloodstream infections with F. tularensis in Austria that occurred after tick or insect bites (Heger et al., 2023). In fact, not much is known about the spread of F. tularensis in ticks in Austria. To gain a better overview of the situation, patients diagnosed with tularemia were surveyed about insect and tick bites as part of the EU-funded United for Surveillance (U4S) project from 2023 to 2025. From the 40 questionnaires returned, it can be concluded that 18 had a history of tick bites. In addition, vectors were collected at five locations in Upper Austria and three in Lower Austria as part of the project and tested for F. turalensis. The fieldwork took place at the locations where the patients were most likely to have been infected with F. turalensis, and F. turalensis was detected in one tick.
Since the beginning of 2025, the RAISE project has also been testing ticks sent in by citizen scientists for this pathogen. Figure 2 describes, among other things, the proportion of pathogens found in the ticks examined. Of the 8,298 ticks submitted, 46% were tested for a range of pathogens. These included F. tularensis, which was found in 0.1% of cases. Our results are therefore consistent with comparable international studies.
All current results can be found here: Tick Information - AGES.
Discovering ticks for research purposes
The citizen science project is continuing this year in the new tick season, and we look forward to receiving ticks from all over Austria. Dead ticks can be sent to us by post to AGES, Department of Vector-borne Diseases, Währinger Straße 25a, 1090 Vienna. Live ticks can be handed in at a number of locations. The exact addresses, what we do with the ticks and the results of all investigations, as well as many other useful tips and information about these cute arachnids, can be found here under Tick Information - AGES.
Sources:
Tularemia - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal Health
ECDC: Factsheet on tularaemia
BMG: Tularemia, https://www.verbrauchergesundheit.gv.at/dam/jcr:213432b6-a235-47d1-ba42-ff781ecfa552/BMG-74600_0201_2012_17_Merkblatt_Tularaemie__Aug2012.pdf
RKI guide – Tularemia
AGES: Tularemia (rabbit fever)
Heger, F., Schindler, S., Pleininger, S., Fueszl, A., Blaschitz, M., Lippert, K., ... & Indra, A. (2023). Three cases of tickborne Francisella tularensis infection, Austria, 2022. Emerging infectious diseases, 29(11), 2349.
Discovering ticks for research purposes – Austria researches 2025
Tick information – AGES
In February, the 2025 annual report of the National Reference Centre for Pneumococci was published.
The national surveillance system monitors invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Austria. In 2025, 944 cases of IPD were registered, resulting in an incidence of 10.3 per 100,000 people.
The serotype could be determined in 880 registered IPE cases, with 41 different serotypes identified: serotype 3 with 20.8%, serotype 19A with 9.9% and serotype 8 with 8.3% were the most frequently detected.
Resistance testing against erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, ceftriaxone and penicillin was performed on 880 isolates. Of these, 11.5% of isolates were resistant to erythromycin, 7.2% were resistant to clindamycin and 8.3% were resistant to tetracycline. According to the guidelines of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, the interpretation of penicillin or ceftriaxone resistance varies depending on the clinical manifestation. With a minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoint (MIC breakpoint) of ≤0.06 mg/L, 91.1% of isolates would be considered fully sensitive to penicillin, and with an MIC ≤0.5 mg/L, 99.4% would be considered fully sensitive to ceftriaxone.
In February, the 2024 annual report of the National Reference Centre for Legionella Infections was published.
In 2024, the National Reference Centre for Legionella Infections recorded 354 cases of Legionnaires' disease, including 14 deaths. The upward trend of the past ten years thus continued in 2024. Once again, there was a clear seasonal pattern in the summer. The highest monthly incidence to date was recorded in September, with 0.71 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
As in previous years, the majority of all 354 infections occurred in older men. The infection mainly occurred in private settings. Only a small proportion (72 cases) could be traced back to travel and stays in accommodation facilities. Infections in healthcare facilities remain an exception, with six cases.
In 2024, 25 cases of Legionnaires' disease in foreign tourists who had previously stayed in Austria were reported to the National Reference Centre by the European Legionnaires' Disease Surveillance Network, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States of America, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and the British Health Security Agency.
On 24 February, the Mosquito Alert Annual Report 2025 was published.
Mosquito Alert collects information on the spread of non-native mosquito species while raising awareness of the health risks posed by mosquitoes. Citizens can use an app to submit photos of mosquitoes, which are then identified by experts.
In 2025, the number of reports continued to rise. The app is used particularly frequently in regions where tiger mosquito populations are already established: in Vienna and Styria. There are also increasing reports in Lower Austria and Upper Austria, although fewer findings are known there so far. Overall, the data shows a significant spread of the tiger mosquito in Vienna, Graz and Linz compared to the previous year 2024.
Denmark has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis before, during and after birth and has been certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for this achievement. This makes Denmark the first EU country to achieve this health goal and meet all criteria between 2021 and 2024. These include very low transmission rates (<50 per 100,000 births), high coverage of prenatal testing and adequate treatment for pregnant women. Crucial to this success were Denmark's strong, well-developed and freely accessible healthcare system – particularly in primary care – as well as comprehensive prevention programmes with screenings, robust laboratory capacities and an exemplary database system.
Denmark is now on track to achieve "triple elimination" – the additional elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, which has so far been achieved in 22 countries and territories worldwide.
In January 2026, rabies was diagnosed in a dog imported from Russia after it had died. According to its vaccination certificate, the puppy from Russia had been vaccinated against rabies. Although documents showed correct identification (chip), rabies vaccination and the required antibody titre, investigations after the animal's death revealed discrepancies. According to these, the puppy was younger than originally stated. It is therefore currently assumed that an effective vaccination was not carried out or that the vaccination record was falsified.
Other dogs were transported in the same vehicle as the infected dog. One dog went to new owners in Austria, while the other dogs were handed over to new owners in Belgium, France and Switzerland. The Member States concerned were informed via the European reporting system.
One of these contact dogs is currently in Vorarlberg. After the case became known, the animal was clinically examined and placed under home quarantine. The two animal owners received active immunisation. The dog showed no symptoms during the observation period. An examination at the AGES Mödling National Reference Laboratory revealed a sufficient antibody titre (0.66 IU/ml). A booster vaccination was administered at the end of the quarantine period. The dog remains clinically unremarkable.
Infection with the rabies virus is always fatal in both humans and animals. Therefore, medical care is urgently needed if exposure to rabies is suspected. The case highlights the risk of rabies being introduced through illegal animal trade from regions where the disease is still present. Suspected cases, cases of illness and death, as well as bite injuries caused by animals with or suspected of having rabies, are subject to mandatory reporting and must be reported to the district administrative authority within 24 hours. More information on buying animals from abroad and what to consider when doing so can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.
Terrestrial rabies, i.e. "ground-based rabies" transmitted by mammals living on the ground, e.g. foxes, dogs, etc., has been eradicated in Austria since 2008. The WHO has certified Austria as rabies-free. This also applies to all neighbouring countries. Bat rabies, which was confirmed for the first time in Austria in September 2023 in a dead bat, must be distinguished from terrestrial rabies. Although never observed in Austria, transmission by bats cannot be completely ruled out.
Caution when buying animals from abroad: Current rabies case in Germany highlights risks Latest
news on rabies in Germany | Friedrich Loeffler Institute
Animal welfare abroad with risk: Rabies case causes alarm / German Veterinary Association
26.02.26 - Germany: Fatal rabies case in animal import
AGES - Rabies
In March 2026, Chile was officially verified as free of leprosy by the WHO and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). This makes Chile the first country in the Americas and the second country worldwide after Jordan (2024) to have this elimination, i.e. the end of leprosy transmission within its territory, confirmed.
Historically, leprosy in Chile occurred mainly on Easter Island, while only a few cases were recorded on the mainland. The last locally transmitted case was reported in 1993. Between 2012 and 2023, Chile reported 47 cases, all of which were imported. Nevertheless, leprosy remained notifiable and was monitored through integrated surveillance. Leprosy often affects population groups living in vulnerable conditions. According to the WHO, early diagnosis, universal access to treatment and continuous epidemiological surveillance have contributed to its elimination. This underlines the need to keep an eye on rare infectious diseases and the importance of concentrated efforts in the fight against infectious diseases.
We have covered more about leprosy and the stigma associated with it in the "Topic of the Month" section of the AGES Radar issue dated 22 January 2026.
Chile becomes the first country in the Americas to be verified by WHO for the elimination of leprosy
The AGES Radar for Infectious Diseases is published monthly. The aim is to provide the Austrian health services and the interested public with a quick overview of current infectious diseases in Austria and the world. The diseases are briefly described, the current situation is described and, where appropriate and possible, the risk is assessed. Links lead to more detailed information. The "Topic of the month" takes a closer look at one aspect of infectious diseases.
How is the AGES radar for infectious diseases compiled?
Who: The radar is a co-operation between the AGES divisions "Public Health", Knowledge Management and Risk Communication.
What: Outbreaks and situation assessments of infectious diseases:
- National: Based on data from the Epidemiological Reporting System (EMS), outbreak investigation and regular reports from AGES and the reference laboratories
- International: Based on structured research
- Topic of the month (annual planning)
- Reports on scientific publications and events
Further sources:
Acute infectious respiratory diseases occur more frequently in the cold season, including COVID-19, influenza and RSV. These diseases are monitored via various systems, such as the Diagnostic Influenza Network Austria (DINÖ), the ILI (Influenza-like-Illness) sentinel system and the Austrian RSV Network (ÖRSN). The situation in hospitals is recorded via the SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Illness) dashboard.
For the international reports, health organisations (WHO, ECDC, CDC, ...) specialist media, international press, newsletters and social media are monitored on a route-by-route basis.
For infectious diseases in Austria, the situation is assessed by AGES experts, as well as for international outbreaks for which no WHO or ECDC assessment is available.
Disclaimer: The topics are selected according to editorial criteria, there is no claim to completeness.
Suggestions and questions to:wima@ages.at
As the response to enquiries is also coordinated between all parties involved (knowledge management, MED, risk communication), please be patient. A reply will be sent within one week.
Number of cases of notifiable diseases according to the Epidemic Act; the figures shown are for the previous month and, for the period from the beginning of the year to the end of the previous month, the figures for the current year, the previous year and the median for the last 5 years for comparison (Epidemiological Reporting System, as of 11 March 2026).
| Pathogens | 2026 | 2025 | 2021-2025 (median) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb | Jan-Feb | Jan-Feb | Jan-Feb | |
| Amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Botulism b | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brucellosis | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Campylobacteriosis b | 289 | 852 | 805 | 867 |
| Chikungunya fever | 10 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Cholera | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clostridioides difficile infection, severe course | 40 | 98 | 186 | 115 |
| Dengue fever | 5 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| Diphtheria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ebola fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Echinococcosis caused by fox tapeworm | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Echinococcosis caused by dog tapeworm | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Spotted fever (rickettsiosis caused by R. prowazekii) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Early summer meningoencephalitis (ESME) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Yellow fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Haemophilus influenzae, invasive a | 7 | 21 | 35 | 27 |
| Hantavirus disease | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Hepatitis A | 11 | 17 | 16 | 9 |
| Hepatitis B | 97 | 178 | 171 | 162 |
| Hepatitis C | 91 | 156 | 183 | 169 |
| Hepatitis D | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Hepatitis E | 0 | 10 | 12 | 8 |
| Whooping cough (pertussis) | 220 | 348 | 681 | 44 |
| Polio (poliomyelitis) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lassa fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Legionnaires' disease (legionellosis) d | 14 | 32 | 68 | 35 |
| Leprosy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leptospirosis | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Listeriosis b | 6 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Malaria | 7 | 12 | 11 | 9 |
| Marburg fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Measles | 1 | 3 | 56 | 32 |
| Meningococcus, invasive c | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2 |
| Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Anthrax | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mpox f | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Norovirus gastroenteritis b | 412 | 781 | 1,282 | 516 |
| Paratyphoid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Plague | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pneumococci, invasive c | 72 | 186 | 267 | 190 |
| Smallpox | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Psittacosis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Puerperal fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rotavirus gastroenteritis b | 114 | 230 | 200 | 130 |
| Rotz (Malleus) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rubella | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Relapsing fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEC | 47 | 112 | 108 | 44 |
| Salmonellosis b | 60 | 134 | 105 | 115 |
| Scarlet fever | 22 | 36 | 62 | 18 |
| Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shigellosis b | 23 | 56 | 48 | 17 |
| Other virus-induced meningoencephalitis | 4 | 19 | 26 | 16 |
| Rabies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trachoma | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trichinellosis | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Tuberculosis | 16 | 39 | 63 | 63 |
| Tularemia | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Typhus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bird flu (avian influenza) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West Nile virus disease | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yersiniosis b | 10 | 28 | 16 | 22 |
| Zika virus disease | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
a Diseases are assessed according to case definition. Diseases for which a case definition exists are presented, with the exception of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. As a rule, confirmed and probable cases are counted. Changes may still occur due to late notifications or subsequent entries.
b Bacterial and viral food poisoning, in accordance with the Epidemic Act.
c Invasive bacterial disease, according to the Epidemic Act.
d Includes only cases with pneumonia.
e Due to the lack of a case definition before 2025, only cases from 2025 onwards are shown; the median is also only calculated from 2025 onwards.
f Mpox has been notifiable since 2022; the median is only calculated for the years in which there is a reporting obligation.
Last updated: 12.03.2026
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