Officials stressed that while this is a minor improvement, the outbreak - the worst the country has seen in decades - is far from under control.
The update comes two days after our portal, citing the latest guidance from the Polish Embassy in Prague, reported that Poland urged caution amid a sharp surge in hepatitis A infections in the Czech Republic.
The government’s travel advice pages continue to carry warnings about the virus.
On government travel-information websites, the Polish Embassy in Prague has long been warning about a rise in hepatitis A cases in the Czech Republic (photo: MSZ/ gov.pl/web/czechy/informacje-dla-podrozujacych)
Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection spread through contaminated food, water, or close contact. Most people recover fully, but the illness can be severe for older adults or those with chronic liver disease.
Polish experts, including virologist Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska, a professor at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, have warned travelers to be careful about food sources and to drink only bottled water.
"We have a vaccine against hepatitis A (HAV), Szuster-Ciesielska noted via social media.
Cases remain at historic high
Petra Batók of Prague City Hall told Seznam.cz that it was “too early to conclude” that the situation had changed. “We would all like this to be the beginning of the end of the problem, but we cannot consider such a short period evidence of a permanent trend,” she said.
According to the Czech National Institute of Public Health, 2,597 cases of hepatitis A were recorded nationwide between January and 16 November - four times the number reported in 2024 and the highest annual total since 1989. Twenty-nine people have died this year, compared with two last year.
Capital accounts for nearly half of cases
Prague remains the epicentre of the outbreak, with 1,108 infections, or 42% of all cases. Health officials said the virus has spread beyond traditional high-risk groups in the capital.
They warned that older adults, and those with weakened immune systems or pre-existing liver conditions, face higher risks of severe illness. Adults over 65 who were exposed to the virus in childhood generally retain sufficient antibodies.
Hygiene campaign and preventive measures
Since early October, Prague has run a city-wide campaign urging residents and visitors to follow strict hand hygiene and consider vaccination, which authorities stress is the most effective protection.
Cleaning and disinfection efforts have been increased on public transport, and since 15 November, metro doors have been programmed to open automatically to reduce contact with shared surfaces.
Some districts have taken additional measures, with the historic city centre disinfecting high-risk public areas since September.
Authorities: no need to cancel trips
Despite the scale of the outbreak, Czech officials say there is no need to cancel travel to the country, provided basic hygiene precautions are observed.
Tomáš Zukal, head of CzechTourism, told the Polish state news agency PAP that Polish visitors remain “very welcome” and that rising tourist numbers demonstrate the country’s appeal.
“In September alone, visits by Polish tourists increased by 33% year-on-year,” he said, noting that most visitors still focus on Prague, leaving much of the Czech Republic yet to be explored.
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Source: Polish Radio English Service/PAP/MSZ/CDC
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