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 a fatal and fast-spreading 'dirty hands disease'.
Hundreds have fallen ill, and some have died, as
5
Hep A can cause jaundice, making the skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow
Credit: Alamy
5
The virus inflames the liver, stopping it from working properly
Credit: Getty
5
In the Czech Republic, 600 cases of hep A have been confirmed in 2025, including six deaths
Credit: Getty
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
It inflames and damages 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
It can also lead to dark urine and cause itchy skin.
Read more on hep A
But in some cases, people show no symptoms at all - making it even easier for the virus to spread unnoticed among crowds.
While many recover without serious issues, in severe cases, the liver damage can become life-threatening, leading to
According to a
Slovakia, which has been experiencing an ongoing outbreak since late 2022, has reported 880 cases reported in 2025 alone.
Most read in Health
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 hep 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.
5
Austria has recorded 87 confirmed cases, including three deaths
Credit: Getty
5
Slovakia has been experiencing an ongoing outbreak since late 2022
Credit: Getty
Hep A vaccines are not routinely given out in the UK due to the low risk of getting the infection.
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 hep A.
If you have long-term liver disease or a blood clotting disorder like
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 hep A vaccine.
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A?
Symptoms can include:
Feeling tired and generally unwell
Joint and muscle pain
A high temperature (fever)
Loss of appetite
Feeling or being sick
Pain in the upper-right part of your tummy
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Dark urine and pale stools
Itchy skin
Source:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
New ‘Ozempic pill' is better than ‘skinny jabs' and helps you lose weight even faster, study suggests
A NEW 'Ozempic pill' leads to faster weight loss than the popular 'skinny jabs', studies have suggested. The new weight loss medication, which can also be offered by injection, can help patients lose a significant amount of weight. Advertisement 1 The new weight loss pill has seen promising results in early trials Credit: Getty An early study found that patients who received amycretin as a weekly jab lost 24% of their body weight after 36 weeks of treatment. But initial trials assessing a tablet form of the jab saw promising results with patients losing an average 13% of bodyweight in just three months. This suggests the drug leads to greater weight loss than Wegovy, the 'sister jab' of Ozempic. Such treatments have been called transformative by NHS leaders. Advertisement Read more Health news It's estimated that around 1.5 million Brits currently receive weight loss jabs through specialist weight loss services or private prescriptions. But weight pills offer a new hope to millions looking to lose weight as the injections put additional pressure on an overstretched NHS. However, further clinical trials are needed before the treatment can be made available in the UK. This could take several years and there's no guarantee that regulators will approve the use of the drug. Advertisement Most read in Health Amycretin, made by Novo Nordisk, contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy and helps control blood sugar and appetite. It targets specific receptors in the body - the GLP-1 and amylin receptors - helping you feel full and stops overeating. An early trial published in The Lancet found that 125 adults taking weekly injections containing higher doses of the drug lost nearly a quarter of their body weight after 36 weeks. It also showed signs of improving blood sugar levels. Advertisement However, there were some mild to moderate side effects including nausea and vomiting but these were resolved by the end of the treatment. Experts said that the medicine appeared "safe and tolerable" but further studies were needed to fully assess the drug. But a second trial, also published in The Lancet, assessed the drug in tablet form in 144 people. Those taking the highest dose of 100mg lost 13% of their body weight over four months. Advertisement Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons The authors wrote: "Amycretin effectively lowered body weight and improved metabolic and glycaemic parameters in people who were overweight or obese. "Longer studies with more participants are warranted for evaluation of the safety and efficacy of amycretin in individuals living with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and to optimise the dosing regimen." As with the first trial, there were also some mild to moderate side effects including loss of appetite and similar gastrointestinal issues. It comes as a separate study examined the effects of the weight-loss jab, Wegovy, at higher doses. Advertisement The researchers found that giving patients 7.2mg of Wegovy once a week led to an average weight loss of 21%, with a third of participants losing 25% of their body weight over 72 weeks. The studies were also presented to the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit fighting for life after catching deadly disease on all-inclusive at hols hotspot
A BRITISH tourist is fighting for her life after catching a deadly disease while on her all-inclusive holiday in Greece. Donna Jobling, 57, from west Hull, came down with Legionnaires' disease on the island of Crete, and is in intensive care. 2 Donna Jobling, 57, of west Hull, is fighting for her life in hospital Credit: MEN Media 2 Donna was on holiday in Crete with her husband and two friends Credit: Getty She is receiving urgent treatment at Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion after falling ill just days into the trip. Donna was holidaying with her husband Sidney and friends Paula and Nicolas Mason, also of Hull. The group had been enjoying a £1,500-per-couple all-inclusive trip when Donna fell ill. She developed a chest infection and needed lots of rest, and then became seriously ill two days later. Donna, who suffers from "complex" medical conditions including epilepsy, was taken to hospital on June 11 and doctors put her in an induced coma. Tests confirmed she had contracted Legionnaires' disease, which triggered acute respiratory failure and Her "devastated" family has flown out to be by her side. Neice Claire, 42, has been back-and-forth between Crete and Hull. Most read in The Sun She is currently in East Yorkshire to obtain Donna's insurance documents before flying back out. The couple was travelling with Easyjet. A spokesperson for the company said: "We're so sorry to hear that Ms Jobling is unwell, and we're continuing to support her and her family in every way we can. "As soon as we were made aware of reports of illness, we immediately took action and contacted customers who were already staying in the hotel, or due to travel in the next four weeks, to provide alternative hotel options." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Sex drug Viagra has surprising new health benefit and could help 3 million ageing Brits, say scientists
SEX aid pill Viagra helps stiffen your skeleton, a study suggests. The little blue tablet was found to increase production of vital bone cells — so could one day prevent back pain and fractures in old age. Advertisement Researchers found sildenafil, which is branded as Viagra, helped human stem cells transform into osteoblasts, the bone-building cells. These are vital as the human skeleton regenerates and is completely replaced roughly once every ten years. As we age, we lose more bone than we build, increasing the risk of breaks or osteoporosis, which makes bones brittle and painful. The Peking University team's follow-up tests on mice also suggested sildenafil would prevent bone loss. Advertisement READ MORE ON VIAGRA Dr Menglong Hu and Dr Likun Wu said: 'Our findings offer new insights into the physiological effects of the medicine. 'Sildenafil enhanced stem cell osteogenic differentiation and inhibited bone loss — it may usefully treat osteoporosis.' More than three million Britons suffer drugs . They said: 'Any new drug must be evaluated. This is time-consuming, expensive and risky. But sildenafil is approved and safe.' Advertisement Most read in Health Exclusive Studies have since suggested it might also reduce dementia risk. Why You Should Think Twice Before Popping Viagra Just For Fun (1) 1 Viagra could be useful in treating osteoporosis, scientists now believe Credit: Getty
