Number of Austrian SARS-CoV-2 infections in the 2024/2025 season: Analysis of national wastewater data
1
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
2
Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
3
Institute of Legal Medicine and Core Facility Metabolomics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
4
Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
5
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
6
Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
7
Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A480
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 policies requires information on contemporary infection trends. As SARS-CoV-2 infections are no longer actively tracked, indirect measures such as estimations based on wastewater data are needed.
METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective estimation of total SARS-CoV-2 infections in the entire population of Austria from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, based on wastewater monitoring data. The applied method builds on a previously published approach that estimated infection prevalence during the pandemic by fitting wastewater measurements to seroprevalence data.
RESULTS:
Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, we estimate 2.5 million new infections in Austria. Active infections peaked at 337,000 in early October and decreased thereafter. Infections rates in winter were substantially lower compared to previous years.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings indicate the earliest annual fall/winter peak and the lowest annual infections since 2020. Policy makers, physicians and high-risk individuals should be aware of the ongoing seasonal SARS-CoV-2 infection waves and their variability in timing.
Adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 policies requires information on contemporary infection trends. As SARS-CoV-2 infections are no longer actively tracked, indirect measures such as estimations based on wastewater data are needed.
METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective estimation of total SARS-CoV-2 infections in the entire population of Austria from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, based on wastewater monitoring data. The applied method builds on a previously published approach that estimated infection prevalence during the pandemic by fitting wastewater measurements to seroprevalence data.
RESULTS:
Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, we estimate 2.5 million new infections in Austria. Active infections peaked at 337,000 in early October and decreased thereafter. Infections rates in winter were substantially lower compared to previous years.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings indicate the earliest annual fall/winter peak and the lowest annual infections since 2020. Policy makers, physicians and high-risk individuals should be aware of the ongoing seasonal SARS-CoV-2 infection waves and their variability in timing.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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