HepA Vaccination Recommended Before Visiting Prague

A significant increase in hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has been reported in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia in 2025.

The Czechia State Institute of Health recently reported its multi-month HAV outbreak had reached 1,348 cases, with 15 people having died from the liver disease this year.

The State Health Institute (SZÚ) reported on September 3, 2025, that the majority of HepA cases have been recorded in Prague (436), Central Bohemia (202), and the Moravian-Silesian Region (118).

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the increase in HAV infections is primarily affecting adults experiencing homelessness, individuals who use or inject drugs, and those living in poor sanitary conditions who have limited access to healthcare.

Local cases have also been reported among members of the Roma communities in both Czechia and Slovakia.

According to media reports, Prague was the most visited destination in Czechia, attracting about 1.2 million visitors in 2024.

"This outbreak reminds us that hepatitis A can cause serious illness and death, especially among people with limited access to healthcare and basic hygiene," said Ole Heuer, Head of Unit for One Health Related Diseases at ECDC, in a media release. 

"We need to strengthen outreach, provide access to vaccination in groups more likely to be exposed, and ensure basic sanitation, especially in response to the increase in cases. More than health measures, they are equity measures."

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable acute infection of the liver caused by a small, non-enveloped hepatotropic virus classified in the genus Hepatovirus within the family Picornaviridae.

The U.S. CDC recommends vaccination for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older traveling to Czechia.

And unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, are immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart for a risk area in less than 2 weeks should receive the initial dose of vaccine and, at the same appointment, receive immune globulin.

As of September 6, 2025, HAV vaccines are generally available at health clinics and pharmacies in Europe and the United States.