Lyon's Hepatitis A Outbreak Impacts 73 People

Since 2016, there has been an increase in the number of hepatitis A cases, primarily affecting men in low-endemic countries across Europe.

According to a recent report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia reported higher-than-expected numbers of hepatitis A virus (HAV) subgenotype IB cases in 2025.

Additionally, France recently reported HAV cases, with 73 reported in the Rhône department as of August 19, 2025.

This French health ministry HAV data marks a 356% increase in cases compared to the same period in 2024.

The Rhône department is located in the east-central administrative region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, which includes the Lyon Metropolis, and has a population of approximately 1,875,747.

Previous HAV outbreaks in France, particularly in the Seine-Maritime department, are reported by the ECDC.

Since HepA is a vaccine-preventable disease, the U.S. CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination for most international travelers engaging in higher-risk activities, such as visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where they may be exposed to food or water contamination.

And for travelers who plan on eating street food in France.

In the United States, HepA vaccines are generally offered at travel pharmacies and clinics in 2025.