Hepatitis A in the Czech Republic update
Prague remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for more than 40 percent of all infections in the country
In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in the Czech Republic, officials report the number of cases in the capital city of Prague are increasing rapidly.
In the past week alone, doctors in the Czech capital have reported more than 60 new cases of this highly contagious disease, roughly the same number recorded in the previous three years combined.
According to the National Institute of Public Health, there were 1,842 cases of hepatitis A nationwide as of October 5, the second-highest figure since 1989. So far, 21 people have died as a result of the disease.
Since the beginning of the year, health officials have reported nearly 890 cases in the capital, including almost 160 cases involving children. Prague remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for more than 40 percent of all infections in the country.
Petra Batók, spokeswoman for the Prague Hygiene Station, says the situation is indeed serious.
“In Prague, we are already talking about a local epidemic, and the rising number of infections is beginning to spill over into other regions. So yes, it’s really important to pay attention to the situation.”
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, weakness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, and diarrhea.
Although rare, hepatitis A can cause death in some people. Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent disease. Infection can be prevented by vaccination after a known exposure to a person with infectious hepatitis A.