Red alert in Vienna: Hepatitis A cases are exploding!

Red alert in Vienna: Hepatitis A cases are exploding!

In Austria, the health authorities are sounding the alarm: Hepatitis A cases are increasing rapidly. According to the city health department MA 15 in Vienna, over 113 cases were documented between January 1st and July 1st, 2025. That's a worrying increase compared to just 42 cases reported in 2024, as reported Mercury reported.

The authorities have already sent warnings to hospitals, rescue organizations and doctors' offices to contain the spread of the disease. Homeless people are particularly affected, as a significant proportion of cases come from homeless shelters. Early lockdown vaccinations are now being carried out in these facilities to prevent further spread.

The challenges of hepatitis A

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is usually transmitted through contaminated food or water. This also includes transmission through certain sexual practices. Although the infections are often mild and most people recover completely, severe forms cannot be ruled out. The development of a vaccine has shown in the past the importance of prevention in order to avoid outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization Hepatitis A vaccines are safe and effective.

If you want to protect yourself safely, you should find out about the costs of the vaccination. A hepatitis A vaccination costs between 50 and 65 euros per dose. A good hand at prevention now can help avoid serious consequences of this disease.

Measles and vaccination rates in Vienna

But hepatitis A is not the only cause of concern. Measles also remains an issue: In Vienna there have been 59 cases of measles and 110 suspected cases since the beginning of the year. In comparison, 72 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles were registered in the same period last year. Experts warn that higher vaccination rates are necessary to effectively contain the spread of hepatitis A and measles in order to prevent a new wave of the disease.

The vaccinations against measles are free, which should be another incentive to get vaccinated. In Bavaria, 41 cases of measles had been reported by August 4th, which represents a slight decrease compared to 56 in the same period last year. This shows that the situation remains serious and more awareness of preventative measures is needed.

Although there are many challenges currently weighing on the health authorities, it remains to be hoped that targeted information measures, such as those that MA 15 is now tackling, can create better awareness of the risks. Finally, preventative measures are key to combating these health threats.