Capital, Central Bohemia see epidemic-level rise of Hepatitis A cases

Since the beginning of the year the Czech capital and Central Bohemia have seen a marked increase in the incidence of Hepatitis A, a disease that can be caught off contaminated food or eating utensils or other objects. Almost 400 people, now including a number of school children, have come down with the disease since January – a jump of epidemic proportions from last year’s 128. Although hygiene centres, hospitals and schools have mobilised against the threat, things are still expected to get worse before the current epidemic is stifled.

Hepatitis A is known as the “dirty hands” disease in Czech for the ease with which the disease is transmitted. But it has been a while since Prague and surrounding areas saw a rise of the disease in such proportions. The quarantine ward at Bulovka Hospital for those infected, is packed and every day several new cases are reported. The disease, which usually begins with flu-like symptoms and sometimes jaundice and leads to inflammation of the liver, has already made its way into schools: six children or youths have also come down with it. What is behind the dramatic rise in the number of cases? That’s a question I put to Zdena Jágrová, an epidemiologist at Prague’s main Hygiene Office:

“Over the last ten years the incidence of Hepatitis A in the Czech Republic was quite low: a large group of people here had never come into contact with the disease. In Western Europe incidence of the disease was five times higher. East of the Czech Republic, the numbers far greater. What has happened is that we have seen a mix within the population: foreigners, but also drug-users and the homeless, who have contributed to the spreading. We have been active in making sure many individuals in such circles have now been vaccinated, but unfortunately were unable to prevent the disease from spreading into the general population.”

Anyone not vaccinated against the disease may do well to now consider queuing up for a shot: as the number of cases, specialists say, is still expected to go up. Epidemiologist Zdena Jágrová again:

“Preventive vaccination is of course up to the individual but under the current circumstances it’s a step I’d recommend. Last week alone Prague saw 54 new cases, so it’s not likely that this week the number will drop. We expect it will be several more weeks before the number of cases begin to decrease.”

The disease carries an up to 50-day incubation period, meaning still more cases are likely. Once contracted, Hepatitis A routinely causes tiredness and discomfort: patients are required by their doctor to adhere to a strict diet and to limit physical activities until the disease has run its course and patients’ health begins to improve, a process which can take months.