Czechia on brink of hepatitis A epidemic: What's being done to prevent it

Czechia is ramping up efforts to contain a regional outbreak of hepatitis A, following a warning from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) that cases have surged across Central Europe.

Since January, more than 2,000 cases have been reported across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary, the ECDC wrote in a recent statement. As of this week, the Czech Republic has confirmed 706 cases—already surpassing last year’s total of 636.

“The situation in the Czech Republic is not dramatic, but it is not appropriate to underestimate it,” national chief hygienist Barbora Macková said. “We are continuously monitoring it both from an epidemiological and virological point of view."

Health authorities are reporting 30 to 40 new cases each week, with the highest numbers concentrated in Prague (151), Central Bohemia (113), and the Moravian-Silesian Region (96). The highest per capita infection rates have been observed in the Karlovy Vary, Prague, and Olomouc regions.

The virus is spreading primarily among people with limited access to hygiene and healthcare—including the homeless, drug users, and some members of the Roma communities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the ECDC noted.

“This outbreak reminds us that hepatitis A can cause serious illness and death, especially in people with limited access to healthcare and basic hygiene,” said Dr. Ole Heuer, Head of One Health at the ECDC. “We need to strengthen awareness, expand access to vaccination, and ensure basic hygiene.”

In response, the Czech National Institute of Health is conducting targeted vaccination campaigns, particularly among the homeless. Experts are also recommending the vaccine for other at-risk groups, though it currently costs individuals about CZK 1,700 Czech for two doses. Macková has stated she is pursuing public health insurance reimbursement for the vaccine.

The ECDC is urging authorities across affected countries to coordinate cross-border responses. Laboratory testing has confirmed the same viral strain in Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary, indicating regional transmission rather than isolated outbreaks.