Hungary has recorded an increase in hepatitis A cases this year. By November 19, 2025, 1,648 cases had been reported. The highest numbers were in Budapest and the counties of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg.
Men accounted for 56% of patients and women for 44%. Infections were most common among children aged 3 to 14. Four adults with hepatitis A died; all had chronic underlying conditions.
The virus is mainly transmitted by the faecal-oral route, including through unwashed hands, water contaminated with faeces, or unwashed vegetables and fruit. Many infections cause no symptoms, so a person who feels healthy can still pass on the virus.
The incubation period averages about one month. Early symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, feeling unwell, fever, and muscle and joint pain. Jaundice, which causes the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow, can develop later.
The illness is usually mild, but the risk of severe disease increases with age and in people with chronic conditions. Infections in children are often asymptomatic.
Handwashing and personal hygiene are essential to limiting transmission. People should wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating, and children should learn these habits early.
Close contacts of people with hepatitis A, including family members and others living in the same household, are offered vaccination free of charge. The competent epidemiological authority arranges vaccination, and Hungary’s National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy provides the vaccine.
