The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) has issued a warning about a hepatitis A epidemic affecting the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary, with over 2,000 cases reported since the beginning of 2025.

Slovakia has reported the highest number of cases at 880, followed by the Czech Republic with 607 cases, Hungary with 530 cases, and Austria with 87 cases, including three fatalities.

Czechia has been particularly hard hit, with six deaths reported and young children being the most affected demographic.

High transmission rates are occurring in populations with poor sanitary conditions, including drug users and the homeless, which are particularly vulnerable.

Travelers are advised to practice good hygiene, wash hands frequently, and avoid eating in unhygienic conditions to reduce the risk of infection.

The ECDC has called for improved vaccination outreach, sanitation, and targeted vaccination programs to mitigate the outbreak.

Currently, unhoused individuals are being vaccinated against hepatitis A, but health officials are advocating for making vaccines reimbursable through public health insurance.

Health officials recommend vaccination against hepatitis A before traveling to affected areas, as the vaccine can prevent illness if administered within two weeks of exposure.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection primarily spread through contaminated food or water and close contact with infected individuals.

Common symptoms of hepatitis A include jaundice, abdominal pain, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue, which may appear weeks after infection.

ECDC's Ole Heuer emphasized the seriousness of hepatitis A, advocating for increased awareness, vaccination access, and improved hygiene measures to counter the outbreak.

As of May 2025, the Czech Republic has reported 607 hepatitis A cases, surpassing the total of 636 cases for the entire year of 2024.