The potentially deadly infection, which spreads through poor hygiene and contaminated food, can cause serious liver damage – and hundreds have already fallen ill across one popular European destination
British tourists are being urged to get vaccinated against a ‘faeces disease’ currently sweeping across Europe. The potentially deadly infection spreads through the faecal-oral route – when someone ingests food or water contaminated with the faeces of an infected person – and can cause serious liver damage in those who contract it.
Hundreds have already fallen ill across the Czech Republic – including its capital Prague – with hepatitis A. The disease is known for triggering symptoms like jaundice, dark urine and intense itching, and has now prompted a fresh warning from Travel Health Pro – a Government-backed travel advisory agency.
The Czech Health Ministry warned: “The disease, also known as infectious jaundice, is spreading not only among children but also among adolescents and young adults, and among people with risky behaviour, especially among drug addicts and homeless people.”
As of May 5, the Czech Republic has logged 450 confirmed hepatitis A cases and six deaths – a significant spike compared to the whole of 2024, which saw 636 cases and two fatalities. Central Bohemia, Moravia-Silesia and Prague are currently the worst-affected regions – with 87, 83 and 73 cases respectively.
Speaking on the rise in cases, Dr Macková, chief hygienist and director of the country’s national institute of public health, said: “When we compare the figures for the whole of last year and just four months of this year, it is clear that we are seeing a sharp increase in cases. Hepatitis A affects regions across the country.
“The transmission of the infection occurs mainly as a result of poor hygiene conditions. Due to the long incubation period, often asymptomatic course, and increasing non-compliance with basic hygiene habits, the infection has very good conditions for spreading. In the current situation, we recommend getting vaccinated before the start of holidays and vacations.”
Health bosses have since issued guidance to tourists, urging them to avoid raw food. “It is recommended to avoid consuming raw salads and vegetables, fruit that you cannot peel yourself, ice cream, raw or semi-raw seafood, and oysters are especially dangerous. In general, it is good to avoid undercooked foods and not use ice in drinks,” said Dr Kateřina Fabiánová – an infectious disease expert for the Czech public health authority.
In children, hepatitis A is largely asymptomatic and it could also take a while for symptoms to start showing in adults – meaning many could be unknowingly passing the virus on.
Fabiánová explained: “The time from infection to the development of symptoms of the disease is 14-50 days, most often 30 days.”
Health officials say certain groups face a higher risk, including frequent travellers, those staying with local residents, men who have sex with men, and people with existing health issues like liver disease.
In the UK, the hepatitis A vaccination isn’t routine due to the low domestic risk. But the NHS does recommend it for those visiting regions where the virus is more widespread, such as parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America. While serious illness from hepatitis A is rare in the UK, the virus claimed 42 lives between 2005 and 2021.