22-05-2025
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
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Hepatitis A virus is spreading in the Czech Republic
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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.
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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
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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.
