Prague public health officials recorded twenty new cases of hepatitis A in September 2026, compared with nine in August. Since the start of 2026, 342 people in Prague have fallen ill, 72 of them children, and two of those infected have died. The spokeswoman for the Prague health officials, Petra Batók, gave the figures to the Czech News Agency on 6 October 2026.[1][2]
Trend in case numbers
According to the health officials, the increase is not caused by a new outbreak, and the situation is calming despite the September rise. The number of new cases in Prague has been falling since the start of the year: there were 89 in January, 38 in April and 12 in July.[1][2] Batók said that the situation is calming but is still not normal, and recommended observing hygiene and getting vaccinated.[1][2]
Comparison with 2025
The health officials described the occurrence of hepatitis A in Prague in 2025 as a local epidemic. In September 2025 they recorded 207 cases, 1,377 for the whole of 2025 and only 37 in 2024. In the whole Czech Republic 3,255 people fell ill in 2025, about five times more than a year earlier; about 40 per cent of cases were in Prague.[1][2]
Transmission
Hepatitis A is transmitted through the stool of a sick or infected person, and a very small amount of virus particles is enough for infection, for example from insufficiently washed hands. According to experts the virus is resistant and survives for a long time, especially in cold and damp environments.[1][2]
Chronology
- — Prague public health officials have recorded 20 new cases of hepatitis A for September 2026, 11 more than in August, and 342 people in Prague have fallen ill since the start of 2026. Pražská Drbna Pražský patriot
Sources
- Pražská Drbna — 6 October 2026
- Pražský patriot — 6 October 2026