Urgent warning over alarming spike in virus that ‘can cause serious illness and death' in 4 European holiday hotspots

FOUR Brit-favourite holiday hotspots have seen spikes in fatal and fast-spreading 'dirty hands disease'.
Hundreds have fallen ill, and some have died, as hepatitis A sweeps through parts of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia this year.
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The potentially deadly virus is spread via the poo of infected people, which is why Czech health chiefs nicknamed it 'dirty hands disease' in a statement last month.
The virus inflames the liver, stopping it from working properly. This means it can't clear a substance called bilirubin from the body.
When bilirubin builds up, it causes jaundice, making the skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow.
It can also lead to dark urine and cause itchy skin.
But in some cases, people show no symptoms at all - making it even easier for the virus to spread unnoticed among crowds.
The four affected countries have reported 2097 cases of hepatitis A in 2025, according to a risk assessment published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) yesterday.
Slovakia, which has been experiencing an ongoing outbreak since late 2022, has reported 880 cases reported in 2025 alone.
This year, Austria has recorded 87 confirmed cases, including three deaths, already exceeding its 2024 total.
In Czechia, 600 cases have been confirmed in 2025, including six deaths, with young children being the most affected group.
Hungary has reported 530 cases this year, mainly among adults.
Germany, while not officially affected, has detected three cases genetically linked to outbreaks in Hungary and Austria, suggesting the outbreak might be gaining traction in Western Europe.
The increase in hepatitis A cases is mainly hitting unvaccinated adults who are homeless, use or inject drugs, or live in poor sanitary conditions without much access to healthcare.
There have also been cases reported in Roma communities in Czechia and Slovakia.
Czech have previously officials urged anyone planning to visit the country to check their vaccine records and get jabbed before travelling.
"In the current epidemiological situation, we recommend getting vaccinated before the start of holidays and vacations," Dr Barbora Macková, chief hygienist and director of the SZÚ said in a statement.
Hep A vaccines are not routinely given out in the UK due to the low risk of getting the infection.
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But the NHS does advise the jab for travellers heading to places where the virus is more common.
These include parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America.
You should also get vaccinated if you've recently been close to someone with hepatitis A.
If you have long-term liver disease or a blood clotting disorder like haemophilia, you should get the jab.
Men who have sex with men and people with jobs that expose them to the virus, like healthcare or sewage workers, should also be vaccinated.
Speak to your GP if you think you need a hepatitis A vaccine.

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