Summary: Multi-country hepatitis A outbreak in the EU/EEA (June 2025)

Publication: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Rapid risk assessment – Multi-country outbreak of hepatitis A in the EU/EEA–18 June 2025. ECDC: Stockholm; 2025.  Overview and epidemiology  Between January and May 2025, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia experienced a significant surge in hepatitis A cases, primarily involving subgenotype IB. Two closely related viral clusters were identified through genetic sequencing. The outbreak mainly affects adults experiencing homelessness, people who use or inject drugs, those living in poor sanitary conditions, and members of Roma communities. Children, especially in Roma populations, were also notably affected, particularly in Slovakia and Czechia1.  Austria reported 87 confirmed cases (68% male, median age 34), already surpassing 2024’s total, with a high rate of hospitalizations and three deaths. Czechia saw 600 confirmed cases (63% male), with cases clustering in young children and adults aged 25–44, and a significant proportion among the Roma population and homeless individuals. Hungary reported 530 confirmed cases,...