Hepatitis C and E cases on the rise in Czechia

The number of people diagnosed with hepatitis E and C in Czechia in 2023 was twice as high as in the previous years, the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine announced at a press conference on Wednesday.

In 2021 and 2022, the State Institute of Health reported about 300 new cases of hepatitis E, while last year, it was 684. Hepatitis E used to be a common disease in countries with low hygiene standards, where it was spread through contaminated water or poor hand washing. In recent years, Europe has seen a surge in hepatitis E cases.

The number of people diagnosed with hepatitis C last year was 1,300, the highest number in the country’s modern history. Doctors say the increase may be caused by more frequent testing of people recovering from drug addiction.