Hepatitis C in Czechia hits historic high: nearly 1,500 infected

Czechia has recorded an unprecedented surge in hepatitis C cases: according to the National Institute of Public Health (SZÚ), 1,486 people had been infected as of September 17 this year — the highest figure since records began. Compared to the same period last year, cases have risen by almost 40%. The virus spreads through infected blood, sexual contact, and from mother to child during childbirth.

Men make up the majority of those infected, and five have already died this year. The most cases were registered in the Ústí nad Labem Region — 326, while the fewest were in the Zlín Region — just 17. According to SZÚ epidemiologist Kateřina Fabiánová, those most at risk of infection are intravenous drug users, people living in socially excluded communities, the homeless, prisoners, and people with tattoos, often done behind bars. "Many infected individuals have several of these risk factors at once," she noted.

Why case numbers are rising

Experts attribute the growing statistics to improved and more accessible diagnostics at medical facilities and through non-governmental organizations — rapid finger-prick blood tests are now widely available. An upgraded electronic system for tracking infectious diseases has also played a role, capturing more people who previously slipped through official records.

Another contributing factor is the growing number of people with tattoos. "The question is where exactly the tattoo is done and whether the artist follows all safety protocols," Fabiánová warned.

The danger of no symptoms

People with hepatitis C often experience prolonged fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, mild nausea, digestive issues, muscle and joint pain, and discomfort under the right rib cage. However, many infected individuals show no symptoms at all.

As experts noted at the 12th Congress of Clinical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology (KMINE), patients may only show slightly elevated liver enzymes, even as the infection silently damages the liver for years. "Without a test, a person may never find out they're infected," warned Pavel Dlouhý, chairman of the Society for Infectious Medicine of the Jan Evangelista Purkyně Czech Medical Association and vice-president of the KMINE congress.

Who should get tested

Testing is primarily recommended for people who currently use or have used intravenous drugs, as well as those who received blood transfusions before 1992, when blood was not yet routinely screened for infections. Dlouhý also advises testing for people with tattoos or piercings done without proper sterilization, and for anyone with unexplained elevated liver readings.

The situation with hepatitis A and D

Czechia continues to see elevated rates of hepatitis A, known as the "disease of dirty hands": from January to August last year, 1,348 people were infected; this year, the figure for the same period has already reached 1,483.

Hepatitis D cases are also rising: last year saw 11 infections identified between January and August, while this year that number has nearly doubled to 21. Hepatitis D can only occur in people who already have hepatitis B. "First, patients with hepatitis B need to be identified, and then additionally tested for hepatitis D," Dlouhý explained, noting that the rise in detected cases is directly linked to more intensive testing.

Treatment and vaccination

Doctors have effective oral medications for treating hepatitis C. "Patients take them for two to three months. This treatment can cure almost every patient, and the therapy itself helps stop further spread of the infection," Dlouhý said.

While hepatitis C can be fully cured with antiviral therapy, treatment for hepatitis D aims to suppress viral replication and prevent further liver damage. Hepatitis A requires rest, dietary adjustments, and strict avoidance of alcohol, with a similar regimen needed for hepatitis B.

Vaccines exist for hepatitis A and B (including a combined vaccine), and hepatitis D can be prevented indirectly through the hepatitis B vaccine. No vaccine exists for hepatitis C. Public health insurance covers the hepatitis A vaccine primarily for people whose jobs may bring them into contact with infected individuals, while the hepatitis B vaccine is covered for children as part of routine immunization and for specific at-risk groups among adults.

Read also: Giving birth in Czechia as a foreigner: insurance and maternity hospitals 2026

Source: denik.cz