Spain reports big increase in hepatitis A cases in 2024
The Spain Ministry of Health reports a significant increase in hepatitis A cases in 2024.
The current outbreak is the largest recorded in Spain in recent years, with 894 cases diagnosed in 2024, a number almost three times higher than in 2023.
In a report published by the Health Alerts and Emergencies Coordination Center, it is highlighted that most cases correspond to men between the ages of 15 and 44. This profile has been associated with men who have sex with other men.
Officials say the incidence of the disease has been higher in communities such as Andalusia, Madrid and Catalonia.
The increase in cases put health authorities on alert. The increasing incidence of hepatitis A has led authorities to strengthen preventive measures, mainly through vaccination.
This is a highly effective vaccine that can be administered as a preventive measure in people who have been exposed to the virus, provided it is administered within the first seven days after contact with a confirmed case.
Despite its effectiveness, the vaccine is not included in the general vaccination schedule in Spain, except in some regions such as Catalonia, Ceuta and Melilla.
Prevention also involves adopting safer sexual practices, such as the use of condoms, especially among the most exposed groups.
Public health experts insist that vaccination is the best preventive measure against hepatitis A.
In Spain, the most serious outbreaks of hepatitis A occurred in 2015 and 2017, with more than 4,000 cases recorded. Since then, cases had remained relatively low, but the resurgence of the disease in 2024 has surprised health authorities.