Polish tourists in the Czech Republic must be careful. There is a dangerous virus on the loose there
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned tourists from Poland to be careful in the Czech Republic. They can become infected with a dangerous virus there. New data shows that the situation in Prague has improved – although only slightly. The number of infections this year is simply huge.
Radosław Sikorski’s ministry recently warned Poles who are planning a trip to the Czech Republic to remember about the high risk of infection with an ssRNA virus from the Picornaviridae family.
About what the situation looks like now, among others: in Prague, said on Thursday (November 20 – in an interview with the Seznam portal – the spokeswoman of the local sanitary station.
The situation in the Czech Republic is worrying. There was a little light at the end of the tunnel recently
“Attention! The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Prague informs about the increase in the number of hepatitis A cases in the Czech Republic,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release (the alert remains valid). The ministry suggested that tourists who plan to stay in the Central Bohemian, Moravian-Silesian regions or want to visit the capital should pack not only money, documents or clothes, but also antibacterial agents in their suitcases. If you are at risk of hepatitis A infection, frequent hand washing is recommended.
It is worth knowing how infection occurs and how it progresses. Food jaundice, also known as dirty hands disease, is most easily infected by eating contaminated food, or by contact with a sick person, and then after eating a meal – without washing your hands first.
The virus that causes hepatitis multiplies in the digestive system and then enters the blood. Eventually it goes to the liver. Then the first symptoms of an unpleasant disease appear. These include: organ pain, sometimes fever, lack of appetite, aversion to fatty foods, headaches, weakness, and, among others, somnolence.
It should be noted that the situation in Prague remains difficult. The authorities said that there has been a recent decline in infections there – so far, hepatitis A has been detected in “only” 37 patients. This is an improvement, albeit a small one. – We all want this to be the beginning of the end of the problems, but we cannot consider it a permanent trend based on such a short period – explains the representative of the city hall, Petra Batok, to Seznam.
Hepatitis A can be fatal. In 2025, 39 deaths were recorded
The findings of the Czech State Institute of Public Health show that from the beginning of January to mid-November 2025, there were nearly 2.6 thousand hepatitis A infections throughout the country. This is a fourfold increase compared to the statistics from 2024.
In some cases, hepatitis A can be fatal – this especially applies to people weakened by chronic diseases, children and seniors. Nearly 30 patients have died this year.
Update 21/11. In order to ensure reliable information for travelers, the Czech Tourism Office clarified that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not advise against trips to the Czech Republic, but only recommends keeping it as usual caution. In this text we inform you about the current situation.
