The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) of Latvia informs that an outbreak of hepatitis A has been recorded in several European countries. Dozens of cases of death have been reported.
In this regard, the CDC urges travelers to exercise caution.
According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, over 6,000 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area in 2025, of which 39 have ended in death.
A significant portion of the cases has been identified in the Czech Republic and Hungary, as well as in Slovakia and Austria. In the Czech Republic, the highest incidence is recorded in Prague, Central Bohemia, and the Moravian-Silesian Region. This is the largest outbreak of hepatitis A in the country in the last 40 years. In Hungary, the most cases have been reported in Budapest and its surroundings.
The last major outbreak of hepatitis A in Latvia was recorded in 2008–2009, when 5,107 people fell ill, and 26 died.
In anticipation of the Christmas holidays and considering the unfavorable epidemiological situation in some European countries, the CDC urges travelers to be cautious and take preventive measures to avoid hepatitis A infection. Everyone who does not have immunity against hepatitis A (has not been ill and/or vaccinated) should especially avoid contact with potentially infected individuals, unsafe foods (such as raw seafood), and unsafe water, as well as adhere to personal hygiene rules – wash hands frequently and thoroughly.
