Thousands Sickened, 9 Killed from Virus Outbreak at 4 Popular Vacation Destinations
An urgent travel warning has been issued for four popular European hotspots, as an outbreak of hepatitis A has sickened more than 2,000 people and caused 9 deaths
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has reported a "significant increase" in the wildly contagious virus, which causes a liver infection
Common instances of transmission include eating food that was prepared by someone with the virus who did not wash their hands after using the bathroom, or by eating shellfish from contaminated waterAn urgent travel warning has been issued for four popular European vacation hotspots due to a virus outbreak that's sickened thousands and caused nine reported deaths.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has reported a 'significant increase' in hepatitis A infections in Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia between January and May 2025, with cases totaling 2,097.
Hepatitis A, the Mayo Clinic explains, is a 'highly contagious' liver infection caused by a virus which "spreads when infected stool, even just tiny amounts, enters the mouth of another person (fecal-oral transmission)."
Transmission sources include consuming food or water that's contaminated or has been prepared by someone with the virus who didn't wash their hands after using the bathroom.
The virus is durable, and can stay alive on surfaces 'for a few months.' It can also spread by eating raw shellfish from sewage-contaminated water.
Slovakia — whose lakeside resorts are popular vacation destinations — has a recorded 880 cases so far this year; Hungary has reported 530 cases, largely among adults. While Austria has only 87 confirmed cases, the country has also reported three deaths.
The outbreak has been the most devastating in Czechia, where six have died; The ECDC reports that 'young children [are] the most affected group.'
Although Germany is not considered a part of the outbreak, the agency did note that three cases have been identified which match the profiles of cases in Hungary and Austria. The ECDC says the outbreak is largely spreading via 'person-to-person transmission within connected social networks or geographical areas, rather than multiple unrelated outbreaks.'
'Circulation of the virus is high among people living in poor sanitary conditions, people who inject drugs, and people experiencing homelessness,' the agency says.
Responding to the outbreaks, Czech Republic's state health institute director and chief hygienist Dr. Barbora Macková said, 'In the current epidemiological situation, we recommend getting vaccinated before the start of holidays and vacations,' per The Daily Mail.
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Not everyone who gets infected will get sick, the Mayo Clinic notes, adding that symptoms may start weeks after infection.
These include the hallmark symptoms like jaundice (yellowing of skin and the whites of the eyes), abdominal pain that's focused on the right side of the stomach — near the liver — and dark urine. Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) can accompany the virus, as well as fever and fatigue.
Getting the hepatitis A vaccine within two weeks of suspected exposure may help prevent sickness.
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