European health agency warns of hepatitis A spike affecting travelers

A peak in viral infections has 1000’s of vacationers sick and causes totally different deaths on some widespread European locations.

4 international locations – Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia – reported a peak between January and Might 2025 in hepatitis A, in keeping with a fast threat evaluation issued by the European Heart for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC).

A complete of two,097 circumstances had been reported within the 4 international locations.

What’s hepatitis?

Slovakia, who has been coping with an lively outbreak since 2022, represents 880 of these circumstances. The Czech Republic is the subsequent most affected nation and reviews 600 circumstances and 6 lifeless, the ECDC mentioned. Hungary reported 530 circumstances in 2025 and Austria reported 87.

Hepatitis A is an “acute viral liver illness” brought on by the hepatitis A -virus (HAV), in keeping with the company.

Hepatitis A is an “acute viral liver illness” brought on by the hepatitis A -virus (HAV), in keeping with the company. (Cavallini James/BSIP/Common Pictures Group by way of Getty photographs))

The illness is principally unfold by contaminated meals or water, or by shut contact with contaminated folks.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox Information Senior Medical Analyst, mentioned that Hepatitis A is a “extensively transmitted” illness that simply spreads between meals processors and “you can also make you very sick.”

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Individuals who haven’t acquired the Hepatitis A vaccination or have been contaminated by the virus are inclined, the company famous. Vaccinations are given in two doses, six to 12 months aside, in keeping with Siegel.

“Folks can have lifelong immunity after an infection,” the physician famous. “A health care provider can test your titers (ranges of blood antibodies) to doc that you’re proof against earlier vaccination.”

Individuals who haven’t acquired the hepatitis A vaccination or are contaminated by the virus are inclined. (Istock)

Teams which might be most affected by the infections embody people who find themselves homeless, use or inject leisure medicines or reside in unsanitary circumstances, in addition to these with restricted entry to healthcare.

“Inside these teams, the danger of the illness is assessed as reasonably for folks underneath 40 years of age and excessive for adults aged 40 or older, as a result of the severity of the illness will increase with age,” the ECDC mentioned.

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“For folks with predisposing liver illness or older adults, the danger will be very excessive. The chance for the broader inhabitants in these international locations is assessed as low to reasonably.”

Those that are immunosuppressive additionally run the next threat, the warning mentioned.

Austria reported 87 circumstances of hepatitis A in 2025. (Istock)

Not everybody will develop signs, however those that do can discover the next frequent results, in keeping with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

• Darkish urine or clay coloured stools
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint ache
• Lack of urge for food
• Nausea, belly ache or vomiting
• Yellow pores and skin or eyes (jaundice)

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“This outbreak reminds us that hepatitis a could cause critical sickness and demise, particularly in folks with restricted entry to well being care and primary hygiene,” mentioned Ole Heuer, head of the One Well being Unit of the ECDC, in a press launch.

“We have now to strengthen outreach, provide entry to vaccination in teams which might be beforehand uncovered and assure elementary sanitary amenities, particularly in response to the rise in circumstances.”

“Folks can have lifelong immunity after an infection. A health care provider can test your titers (ranges of blood antibodies) to doc that you’re proof against earlier vaccination.” (Istock)

To deal with the outbreak, the ECDC recommends investigating potential means for transferring hepatitis A, resembling “attainable transmission or spilling in different teams with an elevated threat of an infection.”

The company additionally requires focused vaccination applications, “prophylaxis after publicity” to shut contacts to forestall an infection, and extra genetic assessments of the virus, in addition to extra training and consciousness of threat teams.

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In response to the CDC, receiving the hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (treatment that accommodates antibodies) could stop sickness inside two weeks after publicity.