A spike in viral infections has sickened thousands of travelers and caused several deaths at some popular European destinations.
Four countries — Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia — have reported a spike in hepatitis A cases between January and May 2025, according to a rapid risk assessment issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
In total, 2,097 cases have been reported across the four countries.
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Slovakia, which has been dealing with an active outbreak since 2022, represents 880 of those cases. Czechia is the next most affected country, reporting 600 cases and six deaths, the ECDC stated. Hungary has reported 530 cases in 2025, and Austria has reported 87.
Hepatitis A is an “acute viral liver disease” caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), according to the agency.
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