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Aussies travelling to Europe have been urged to get vaccinated after an outbreak of Hepatitis A in several popular tourist spots.
Numerous cases have been reported in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany, mostly among individuals in inadequate sanitary environments, those who inject drugs, and adults without stable housing.
However, tourists have been advised that anybody can contract the illness.
People below 40 have a moderate risk of falling very ill from the disease, while the risk is high for people over 40, with risk increasing with age.
The risk is also very high for people with predisposing liver disease and older adults.
The risk for the broader population in these countries is assessed as low to moderate.
European countries experiencing Hep. A outbreak
Austria: Austria has reported 87 confirmed cases of hepatitis A, with another 44 non-confirmed cases under investigation.
43 cases were in Vienna, where three deaths were reported.
The number of cases in 2025 has already surpassed 2024 case numbers.
Czechia: Czechia reported 600 confirmed cases of hepatitis A with 63 per cent being men.
Children aged one to nine years old were the most affected age group followed by adults aged 24-44.
Six deaths were reported.
Hungary: Hungary reported 530 confirmed cases and 641 suspected cases under investigation.
Cases were mainly adults, with one cluster affecting 57 adults.
No deaths were reported.
Slovakia: Slovakia has seen a significant spike in hepatitis A cases since the end of 2022.
A total of 850 cases have been reported with no associated deaths; 60 per cent were men.
Nearly half were associated with the Roma community.
Germany: Germany has reported three cases of hepatitis A.
The three cases involved two women and one man who reported drug use.
There have not been any fatal cases in Germany.