Latest news with #EuropeanCenterforDiseasePreventionandControl
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Deadly Virus Infects Thousands Across Europe, Prompting Urgent Travel Warning
An alarming outbreak of hepatitis A has swept through four popular European vacation destinations, sickening more than 2,000 people and leaving nine dead. Health officials are now urging travelers to take precautions or reconsider their plans altogether. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed a "significant increase" in cases of the highly contagious liver virus between January and May 2025 in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia. Hepatitis A spreads primarily through contaminated food and water, or person-to-person contact via poor hygiene—most commonly when infected individuals don't wash their hands after using the restroom. Slovakia, home to scenic destinations like Štrbské Pleso, leads the outbreak with 880 confirmed cases. Hungary has seen 530 infections, mostly among adults, while Czechia has recorded six deaths. Austria, with 87 reported cases, has also experienced three fatalities. Though Germany hasn't been officially named in the outbreak, three of its recent cases match viral profiles found in Hungary and Austria, suggesting regional spillover is already underway. What's especially concerning is how durable the virus is. It can survive on surfaces for months, and symptoms like fatigue, nausea, jaundice, and abdominal pain may not appear until weeks after exposure. Related: U.S. Issues Urgent Worldwide Travel Warning Amid Rising Threats The virus is also being spread via shellfish from contaminated waters and people preparing food without proper sanitation. Officials say the surge is primarily affecting individuals in close-knit communities and those with limited access to sanitation, but the risk to travelers is real. With summer travel heating up, Czech health authorities advise vaccinations ahead of holidays and warn that "prevention is key." If you've booked travel to one of the affected countries, consider getting the hepatitis A vaccine before departure. It may also offer protection if administered within two weeks of potential exposure. In a season where tourism is typically booming, this outbreak is a sobering reminder: not all travel risks are visible. Related: Scientists Sound Alarm on New Tick Behavior That Puts More People in Danger Deadly Virus Infects Thousands Across Europe, Prompting Urgent Travel Warning first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 24, 2025
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
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. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 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. Read the original article on People
Arab News
24-03-2025
- Health
- Arab News
WHO calls for immediate action as report shows 10% rise in child TB infections in European region
Tuberculosis (TB) infections among children in the European region rose 10 percent in 2023, indicating ongoing transmission and the need for immediate public health measures to control the spread, the World Health Organization said on Monday. WHO's European region, which comprises 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, reported more than 7,500 cases among children under 15 years of age in 2023, an increase of over 650 cases compared to 2022. 'The worrying rise in children with TB serves as a reminder that progress against this preventable and curable disease remains fragile,' said Hans Henri Kluge, WHO's Regional Director for Europe. Askar Yedilbayev, regional TB adviser for WHO's European region, said in an interview that a rise in overall cases might indicate improved diagnoses. However, it could also result from increased cross-border movement due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the two countries with the highest disease burden in the region. Children under 15 years of age made up 4.3 percent of all TB cases in the European Union, a joint report by the WHO and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control showed. This shows an increase in cases in this age group for the third consecutive year, which Yedilbayev said was a 'worrisome scenario.' WHO has previously warned that funding cuts from global donors will undo progress in controlling TB infections across low- and middle-income countries. These cuts can hurt TB programs in non-EU countries, fueling a rise of hard-to-treat strains, the agency said. Several local, on-ground workforces have been hurt from the funding cuts, and the supply of diagnostics and treatments remains at risk, said Yedilbayev. TB, among the top 10 causes of death worldwide, is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs and spreads through coughing or sneezing.
