Latest news with #HAV
New York Post
26-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Deadly Hepatitis A outbreak infects thousands of travelers at popular European destinations
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. 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. 3 In total, 2,097 cases have been reported across the four countries. Getty Images/iStockphoto The disease is mainly spread through contaminated food or water, or through close contact with infected people. Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said that hepatitis A is a 'widely transmissible' disease that spreads easily among food handlers and 'can get you very sick.' People who have not received the hepatitis A vaccination or been infected by the virus are susceptible, the agency noted. Vaccinations are given in two doses, six to 12 months apart, according to Siegel. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! 'People will have lifetime immunity after infection,' the doctor noted. 'A doctor can check your titres (levels of blood antibodies) to document that you are immune from prior vaccination.' Groups most affected by the infections include people who are homeless, use or inject recreational drugs or live in unsanitary conditions, as well as those with limited access to healthcare. 'Within these groups, the risk of the disease is assessed as moderate for those below 40 years of age and high for adults 40 years of age or older, as the severity of the disease increases with age,' the ECDC stated. 3 The disease is mainly spread through contaminated food or water, or through close contact with infected people. BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images 'For people with predisposing liver disease or older adults, the risk can be very high. The risk for the broader population in these countries is assessed as low to moderate.' Those who are immunosuppressed are also at a higher risk, the alert said. Not everyone will develop symptoms, but those who do may notice the following common effects, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dark urine or clay-colored stools Diarrhea Fatigue Fever Joint pain Loss of appetite Nausea, stomach pain or vomiting Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) '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 the ECDC's One Health Unit, in a press release. 3 Those who are immunosuppressed are also at a higher risk, the alert said. LightRocket via Getty Images '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.' To address the outbreak, the ECDC recommends investigating potential means of transmission of hepatitis A, such as 'possible foodborne transmission or spill-overs into other groups at increased risk of infection.' The agency also calls for targeted vaccination programs, 'post-exposure prophylaxis' to close contacts to prevent infection, and more genetic testing of the virus, as well as increased education and awareness among high-risk groups. According to the CDC, receiving the hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (medication containing antibodies) within two weeks of exposure can prevent illness.
Medscape
26-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Europe's Hepatitis a Outbreak: What You Need to Know
Last week, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued an alert warning of a multicountry outbreak of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections. Two closely related virus strains have been identified across affected regions, with outbreak spikes centered in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia. The spread appears to be via ongoing person-to-person transmission within connected social networks or geographical areas, according to genetic sequencing. While Germany is not considered an affected country, it has identified three cases with genomic profiles matching those in Hungary and Austria. Cross-Border Transmission The ECDC said testing confirmed cross-border transmission and recommended that EU/European Economic Area public health authorities undertake epidemiologic investigations, targeted prevention measures, and community-based outreach to contain the outbreak and protect public health. In total, the four countries in the outbreak have reported 2097 cases of hepatitis A since the start of the year: 880 in Slovakia, 87 in Austria, 600 in Czechia, and 530 in Hungary. The disease has proved fatal in three cases in Austria and six in Czechia. Transmission Routes The ECDC also issued a rapid risk assessment summarizing that HAV is transmitted primarily via contaminated food, water, or close contact with infected individuals. Risk factors include poor sanitation, lack of access to safe water, inadequate access to basic hygiene, close contact with infected individuals, particularly during risky sexual behaviors such as anogenital-oral sex, use of recreational drugs, and travel to endemic areas. The likelihood of developing symptomatic or severe hepatitis A increases with age and is higher among people who are immunosuppressed or have chronic liver disease. The current outbreak is primarily affecting homeless adults, people who use or inject drugs, and those living in poor sanitary conditions or with limited access to healthcare. Additionally, cases have been reported among members of the Roma communities in both Czechia and Slovakia. Age Differences The strains detected all involved two closely related HAV subgenotype IB variants. However, there are demographic differences between affected populations in different countries. Reported cases in Hungary were mainly in adults, whereas in Czechia the most affected age groups were young children aged 1-9 years and young adults aged 25-44 years. In Slovakia, where the outbreak has been ongoing since the end of 2022 and case numbers are now falling, cases were reported especially in Roma communities in eastern Slovakia and involved mainly children. However, the current epidemiologic pattern marks a notable shift from previous years, the ECDC said. Although 47% of the 2025 cases have occurred within Roma communities, an additional 20% involve adults who are homeless and/or use or inject drugs. Several smaller clusters have also been reported in young children attending preschool facilities. In Austria, case numbers are still increasing — the number reported for the first 5 months of 2025 already exceeds the total recorded in 2024. There was a male predominance (68%), patients' ages ranged from 3 to 84 years (median of 34 years), 63% of cases for which information was available required hospitalization, and three deaths have been reported. What Clinicians Should Know Kinga Kardics, MD To find out what frontline clinicians might need to know about the hepatitis A outbreak, Medscape Medical News spoke with Kinga Kardics, MD, a tropical disease specialist at the Pediatric Center at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. She said the center was seeing one to three patients a week with HAV infections. How Is the Virus Transmitted? The virus can be transmitted through contaminated water, food, and via the fecal-oral route among close contacts: household members, sexual contacts, and children attending day care centers or schools. Among pediatric patients in Hungary, the main transmission route has been the fecal-oral route in schools and nurseries, she said. Who Is at Risk? Kardics noted that additional risk factors or risk groups that have been associated with the illness in outbreaks include men having sex with men, children with immunodeficiencies, pregnant women, and patients with chronic liver diseases. What Symptoms Should Alert Physicians? Most patients with HAV infection have few or mild symptoms, Kardics said. Usual signs are fatigue, nausea, loose stools, fever that lasts just for a few days, and jaundice. Most of the pediatric patients seen at her center have been asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms. In teenagers, the onset of the illness is usually abrupt, with fever, malaise, and abdominal discomfort. Jaundice is the predominant symptom. What Is the Course of Disease? Most patients recover spontaneously, are in good condition, and can stay at home until recovery, she said, though some patients need intravenous fluid replacement for dehydration. So far this year, the center at Semmelweis University has hospitalized about 10 children with hepatitis A infection. All of them recovered, no chronic infection has been detected, and no hepatitis A-related death has been reported so far in the pediatric population. What Basic Hygiene Precautions Should Be Advised in the Community? Practicing good hand hygiene can prevent the spread of HAV, Kardics said. People in the community should be advised to undertake frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water, particularly after using the bathroom, after changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. What Should People in At-Risk Groups Do to Protect Themselves? Strict control measures, such as reinforcing personal hygiene, contact tracing, and administration of vaccine to exposed persons, have proven to be effective in outbreaks, Kardics said. Populations with a higher risk for serious disease from HAV infection should consider vaccination. Several inactivated vaccines are available for prevention, all showing very high efficacy. Active (antigen) immunization is also available in Hungary and is effective if administered within 2 weeks of exposure. Prophylactic Measures The ECDC has advised that physicians in all countries should consider targeted vaccination of population groups most likely to be exposed to the virus. Post-exposure prophylaxis using the hepatitis A vaccine should be prioritized for close contacts of identified cases according to national guidelines. Epidemiologic investigation of the outbreak is continuing.
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Urgent warning to Irish tourists as major illness spreads fast in popular holiday destination – signs to watch out for
IRISH tourists who are planning to jet off in the coming weeks are being warned about a major illness in a top destination that is spreading fast. The 2 Hepatitis A virus is spreading in the Czech Republic Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 Popular holiday destination Prague is also impacted Credit: Getty Images - Getty Six deaths have been reported so far this year, which is an increase from just two reported in 2024. There were 450 cases reported alongside this in just the first four months of the year, while in 2024 there were 636 cases. But now, This is due to the difficulty in tracking the spread of the virus. READ MORE IN HEALTH The The State Health Institute (SZU) warned in a statement: "This year, 450 people have already been infected with the so-called dirty hands disease in the first 4 months of the year. 6 of them have succumbed to hepatitis A (HAV) infection. "The disease, also known as infectious jaundice, is spreading not only among In 2022, there were 4,548 cases reported across 30 Most read in Health The statement added: "We know from experience that even one confirmed case can subsequently mean a big problem. "Data from last year, when we recorded 636 infected people including two deaths, already indicated the gradual spread of the infection across the entire republic, and this trend is unfortunately continuing." Urgent health alert as GP shares ways to combat illness with simple everyday task The infection spreads through contact with a sick person's stool - through, for example, unwashed hands, contaminated food or water, or infected door handles. Places with poor sanitation and hygiene are breeding grounds for the virus. Most people don't have symptoms when infected, though around 10 per cent end up experiencing serious health issues. These can lead to liver failure and even death. People aged 50 and older are at a higher risk, along with people who already have chronic liver disease. SYMPTOMS But there are some symptoms you can keep an eye out for. These include fever, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, nausea, and jaundice. It can also lead to dark urine and cause itchy skin. In most cases, it takes between two to four weeks for those infected to develop symptoms. You may even see symptoms a week or two after the virus is gone, so it's important to be aware that you can spread it without even knowing you have it. The hardest-hit areas so far are Central Bohemia (87 cases), Moravia-Silesia (83), and And it's spreading between different groups including Director of the anti-epidemic department of the Hygiene Station of the Capital City of Prague, MUDr. Martina Marešová, said: "In Prague, almost 1/3 of the disease is reported in homeless people, most of whom are also "It is very difficult for these people to comply with anti-epidemic measures, and contact tracing is especially problematic; in most cases, we are unable to trace contacts. "That is why we have supplied the vaccine to the Naděje and Salvation Army centers, where workers actively offer this protection to clients for free. These centers also cooperate in tracing contacts." The vaccine is the most effective way to combat the spread - but the number of those who are not vaccinated is "gradually increasing," the statement warned. As a result, health officials are urging people to get As many of the people infected are People who work with drug users and those living on streets are also being vaccinated in Prague. CONTACT TRACING But officials warned that as a result of "problematic" contact tracing, it can be difficult to find close contacts to control the spread of the virus. If identified as a close contact and you haven't been vaccinated, you are not allowed into public swimming pools, saunas, summer camps or big events. So Irish In Ireland, the hepatitis A vaccine is available for specific groups at increased risk. These include refugees and those seeking protection, close contacts of cases, and those in outbreak situations, as defined by NIAC (National Immunisation Advisory Committee). The vaccine is also offered to people traveling to areas with higher risks of hepatitis A, such as regions outside Western Europe, North America, and Australia/New Zealand.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Europe destination popular with UK tourists hit by virus outbreak
A Foreign Office-sponsored site said a massive increase has hit with 450 confirmed cases and six dead The Foreign Office has issued a stark warning to Brits planning a holiday in Prague, one of the UK's favourite destinations, particularly for stag and hen parties. Travel Health Pro, the official UK Government outlet run by the Foreign Office, revealed that as of 5 May 2025, a staggering 450 confirmed cases of hepatitis A have been reported in the Czech Republic, resulting in six fatalities. This marks a significant increase from 2024, when 636 cases were reported throughout the year, leading to two deaths. The majority of these cases in 2025 have been reported in Central Bohemia, Moravia-Silesia and Prague. The Czech Health Ministry has 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. Transmission occurs mainly as a result of poor hygiene conditions. ". MUDr. Barbora Macková, MHA, the Chief hygienist and director of SZÚ, expressed concern over the soaring cases: "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 regions of Central Bohemia – 87, Moravia-Silesia – 83 and Prague – 73 report the most cases. The number of susceptible individuals in the population is gradually increasing, i.e. those who have not yet encountered the disease or are not vaccinated." "They are therefore more likely to become infected when in contact with an infected person or objects. In addition to the child population, the spread of HAV has also been recorded in the population of adolescents and young adults and people with risky behaviour, especially among drug addicts and homeless people. "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 prescribed anti-epidemic measures and basic hygiene habits, the infection has very good conditions for 'spreading.'" Officials have explained that in most instances, the disease is more severe in adults than in children, who often experience it symptom-free, leading to easy spread. However, around 10% of patients endure complicated courses; the illness and recovery can last several months. In extremely rare cases, a so-called fulminant, rapid course can occur, resulting in liver failure and death. Mortality is generally low (0.1–0.3%), but may be higher (1.8%) in adults over 50 years of age or in people with underlying chronic liver disease. Czech officials have advised holidaymakers to adhere to certain rules. Deputy head of the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases of the SZÚ, MUDr. Kateřina Fabiánová, Ph.D, said: "Especially for travellers, 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. "Especially in countries with lower hygiene standards, it is not recommended to use water from public taps, even for brushing teeth. It is good to follow the basic rule of the World Health Organisation for preparing food in exotic countries: boil, bake, peel, or leave it alone." With hepatitis A cases on the rise, health officials are raising alarms about the potential for a much higher number of undetected infections, particularly as many children show no symptoms yet remain infectious. What's the timeline for symptoms to appear? Prof Fabiánová explained: "The incubation period of viral hepatitis A, i.e. the time from infection of a person to the development of symptoms of the disease, is 14-50 days, most often 30 days. The contagious period begins in the second half of the incubation period, when the virus is already present in the stool, i.e. usually 1 to 2 weeks before the onset of the disease itself. Contagion then lasts 1 to 2 weeks after the onset of the disease. "The spread of HAV is most often through the stool of an infected person. This involves both direct transmission, from person to person, for example, with dirty hands, and indirect transmission, through contaminated water or food and contaminated objects, for example, we are talking about door handles, handles, handles, in short, places frequently touched by people." Travellers at heightened risk: Preventative measures. Since consuming contaminated food or water is the primary way travellers contract hepatitis A, good personal hygiene and adherence to advice on preventing food and water-borne diseases can significantly lower the risk.
Washington Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Would you swap your plane ticket for a seat on a zeppelin?
A century ago, zeppelin passengers soared across the Atlantic Ocean in luxurious gondolas hanging from humongous hydrogen-filled balloons — the biggest aircraft humanity has ever built. Then, in 1937, the Hindenburg crashed and burned, and the future of the airship industry went up in smoke. Now, a handful of start-ups want to revive the airship as an alternative for some cargo and passenger flights. The new zeppelins would be much safer, the involved companies say, thanks to materials, technology and weather forecasts that aviators in the 1930s could only dream of. And boosters argue that modern airships could offer a low-carbon and inexpensive way to transport goods and travel. Whereas airplanes burn thousands of gallons of kerosene per hour in their jet engines to stay in the air, the zeppelins in development need a few dozen gallons of diesel fuel per hour, in combination with battery power, cutting harmful emissions by up to 90 percent, companies claim. And because these craft use much less fuel, the idea is that it should translate into lower costs for shippers. The zeppelin revival faces skeptics, though. Among them is John J. Geoghegan, author of 'When Giants Ruled the Sky,' a history of the airship industry. Companies have tried — and failed — to bring back airships every decade or two since the Hindenburg, he said. Every time, the dream has run into a hard economic reality: They haven't found a way to make money. 'The next generation of airships today are quite effective at reducing carbon emissions,' Geoghegan said. 'The question is whether the market will support enough of them for them to make a significant contribution to reducing climate change.' The new zeppelins are still in the early days of their development — none are yet certified to fly. But LTA Research, a start-up backed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, has begun testing a zeppelin-like airship, adapting a historic California hangar built for Navy spy blimps as space for construction and storage. Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) is building a factory in Britain that it says will crank out two dozen ships per year by 2030 to carry cargo and tourists. The French government has backed another start-up, Flying Whales, which plans to build an airship factory in Quebec in 2027 and begin commercial operations by 2029. These modern craft are designed to be sturdier than the zeppelins of yore. Aluminum, copper and wooden frames have given way to carbon fiber and titanium. Crude instruments and steering wheels reminiscent of sailing ships have been replaced by computerized controls and sensors that should allow for precise maneuvering. 'If you went into the gondola, it would look like a commercial aircraft … like you were in a Boeing or an Airbus,' said Brett Crozier, CEO of LTA Research. The specific designs vary. LTA Research and Flying Whales are following the example of the old zeppelins, using sturdy rings to hold the shape of their long, lighter-than-air balloons. HAV's hybrid airship is like a mix between a blimp (which by definition doesn't have a rigid structure) and a plane. Its balloon is slightly heavier than air, but its shape helps generate lift as it moves forward, which pushes it into the sky. One thing they all have in common is their massive size. Airships' balloons need to be huge to lift their gondolas off the ground. 'There's no such thing as a small airship, period,' said Barry Prentice, a professor of supply chain management at the University of Manitoba. When LTA Research floats its 400-foot-long Pathfinder 1 airship out of the hangar for a test flight, it's the biggest aircraft in the world. But this is just a prototype for an even bigger version the company plans to use commercially. HAV's airship is 300 feet long and can carry 11 tons of cargo or about 100 passengers. Flying Whales plans to build a 600-foot airship that can carry 60 tons. The engineers have understandably thought a lot about fire risk. The modern prototypes are designed to float using nonflammable helium instead of hydrogen, which cuts the fire risk but invites other challenges. Helium is a scarce, nonrenewable resource that faces regular shortages and price hikes. Companies collect helium as a by-product of natural gas extraction, but — unlike hydrogen — they can't manufacture it: The only way to make helium is at the center of a star or through the slow decay of radioactive elements like uranium. Ultimately, the fate of airships depends on finding a niche in the transport and transportation markets. 'I've been on an airship, and it's a tremendous experience. It's graceful. It's poetic,' Geoghegan said. 'But commercial markets are very hard-nosed, and they're not into poetry and grace. They want a return on investment.' Airship company executives say they can hit a sweet spot that isn't covered by planes or trucks. 'You can either send things expensively and quickly, or cheaply and slowly,' said Diana Little, co-founder of airship start-up Anumá Aerospace. 'This is the middle way that doesn't exist right now.' According to the latest designs, the new airships would tend to max out at about 80 mph. They could beat trucks crawling along interstates in traffic. They'd be much slower than commercial airliners, though, which tend to cruise at between 550 and 600 mph. Some airfreight and tourist flights don't have to move at jet speed, airship boosters argue. They can take it slow to go green. Globally, cargo flights warm the planet about as much as 22 million cars, and their greenhouse emissions are rising, according to a 2024 report from the environmental nonprofit 'We don't need cargo jets. There's very little trade that needs to go that fast,' Prentice said. He pointed out that airlines often convert the oldest and least-efficient passenger planes into cargo carriers. 'They're the most polluting form of air transport, and that's what airships should replace.' As a way to move goods, airships may be most appealing for airfreight that can wait a couple of days for delivery, bulky cargo that won't fit on planes and deliveries to places without runways or roads. The French government originally invested in Flying Whales because it was interested in hauling timber out of remote forests. But the company's leaders say its craft could also carry massive wind turbine blades or pylons for power transmission lines into places that planes or trucks can't easily reach, or carry aid into disaster areas where infrastructure is wrecked. As far as passenger flights, the greatest potential may be for tourist travel where the novelty of an airship is part of the experience, experts say. HAV has struck deals to sell its airships to tourism operators that plan to sell seats onboard as a luxurious and scenic way to cruise between Mediterranean islands, cross the Scottish highlands or fly over the Arctic. Although airships don't need much infrastructure at their destination, they need large clearings or mooring poles to allow them to load and unload. They also need to operate within about 500 miles of their massive, specialized hangars: The LTA Research hangar in California, for instance, covers seven acres under a roof so high that fog sometimes forms near the ceiling. Geoghegan, the airship historian, says he'll believe the revival when he sees it. 'I would love to see airships flying through the sky,' he said. 'But I don't think that specialized cargo, or disaster relief, or even specialized tourism is a big enough market to really sustain these companies.'
