• Hungarian forint
  • Budapest
  • Police news
  • HelloMagyar
Caution! Deadly virus spreading in HungaryCaution! Deadly virus spreading in HungaryCaution! Deadly virus spreading in HungaryCaution! Deadly virus spreading in Hungary
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Society
  • Sport
  • Culture
  • Special Hungary
  • News To Go
  • World
  • Contact Us
  • About us
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
✕
Important
  • The US ambassador harshly attacked the Hungarian government

Support us
Hetzmann Mercédesz Hetzmann Mercédesz · 15/08/2022
· Society

Caution! Deadly virus spreading in Hungary

Just when we thought we more or less learned to live with a virus as dangerous as the Coronavirus, we are getting some bad news. The National Medical Officer has sent a circular to health institutions in the capital warning that infectious hepatitis A is increasingly being detected in patients.

Hepatitis A – new variant?

According to Népszava, Cecília Müller, National Medical Officer, asked the doctors of the institutions to inform their patients about how the virus is transmitted and how to prevent it. The medical officer said that 346 cases had been reported this year by the beginning of August 2022.

This is considered high because the number of hepatitis A-related cases has been falling rapidly in recent years, from 699 cases in 2016 to only 28 in 2020. Last year, there was only a slight increase, with a total of 75 cases reported. In comparison, 346 cases in less than seven months seems extremely high, leading experts to suspect that a new virus variant may have emerged in Hungary, writes Index.

According to Müller, the disease has been detected in many places across the country, but the outbreak mainly affects Budapest, with more than half of the 346 cases reported in the capital.

  • Read also: No stopping — Wizz Air may raise fares even further, says president

How is it transmitted? What are the symptoms?

Lajos Ócsai, the former head of the epidemiological department of the National Public Health Centre (ÁNTSZ), told Népszava that the infectious hepatitis virus is shed in faeces and is passed through the mouth with dirty hands or food and drink contaminated with faeces. In developing countries, contaminated drinking water and inadequately heated food are the most common causes of the spread of infection.

The virus can be spread through direct contact or sexual intercourse. It is very important to note that sex is NOT the only way the hepatitis A can be spread.

The expert also said that this is a long-latent virus, with an incubation period of up to fifteen to thirty days. It starts with a fever, loss of appetite, weakness and abdominal pain for a few days. These are then followed by loss of appetite, vomiting, pain or tenderness in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark-coloured urine, light-coloured stools, jaundice or yellowing of the eyes.

  • Read also: One of Budapest’s main universities may close due to high overheads

How can we prevent it?

Thorough hand washing and washing vegetables and fruit in running water are very important in preventing the spread of infection. According to Lajos Ócsai, the virus can cause widespread epidemics, especially among people living in poor social conditions.

The expert said that children are often asymptomatic but can transmit the virus even when they are mildly ill. It should be noted, however, that the situation with the current outbreaks is not quite what the expert told Népszava, writes Index. This spring and summer, the hepatitis variant, which is also spreading in Europe, has already caused serious illnesses in children, resulting in liver transplants, and in several cases minors have died from the infection.

  • Read also: Ryanair’s latest announcement: they cut frequency on 7 Hungary routes!

There is a vaccine, but not for free

Ócsai said that the infection can be prevented by vaccination. There are two vaccines available in pharmacies to prevent hepatitis A. However, they require a prescription and two shots to be protected. No subsidy is included in the price of the vaccine though.

Unless the epidemiological service registers the patient as infected, in which case the medical officer must vaccinate the surrounding area free of charge. “And if you are going on holiday to a country where hygiene conditions are not guaranteed, you are advised to be vaccinated against the virus in the first place,” the expert said.

budapest airport taxiway runway
Read alsoHuge developments concerning taxiway, runway begin at Budapest Airport

Source: Index, Népszava

If you would like to support the work of the Daily News Hungary staff and independent journalism,
please make a donation here
health healthcare system Hungary
Share

Hot news

  • President Novák urges promoting child birth

  • Hungary looking to Turkmenistan for energy

  • Do you want to study in Budapest? These are your best university options

  • Hungarian president: “Sanctions have hurt us more than Russia”

  • What happened today in Hungary? — 8 June, 2023

  • Hungary donates buses to Ukraine

Related posts

Ukraine Volánbusz
08/06/2023

Hungary donates buses to Ukraine


Read more
Putin Orbán Russia corruption
08/06/2023

Hungarians would rather be closer to the Austrians and Germans than to the Russians


Read more
iváncsa battery factory sk
08/06/2023

Hungarian battery factory workers fall ill, strike and investigation launched


Read more
Semmelweis University Budapest Hungary
08/06/2023

Hungary university leaders attend EP hearing


Read more

4 Comments

  1. Boing says:
    15/08/2022 at 16:31

    Meanwhile, in Hungary, fast foods like kebabs or burger places keep touching food without gloves. It seems in Hungary even after COVID nobody learn the lesson. Authorities should make the use of disposable gloves mandatory for all food providers. In other countries you see the kebabs, burgers or any kind of food preparations with gloves except for Hungary. U can be sure that those workers touch money, scratch any part of their bodies and then touch the food.

  2. Rumdoodle says:
    15/08/2022 at 18:14

    Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus. It’s usually caught by consuming food and drink contaminated with the poo of an infected person, and is most common in countries where sanitation is poor.
    It can last for a while p, and in few cases can be severe….but
    It is NOT deadly.

  3. Eleonora Jobst says:
    15/08/2022 at 20:02

    Dear Rumdoodle, unfortunately in the case of children it can cause life-threatening liver malfunction. There have been several registered cases.

  4. Geraldine says:
    16/08/2022 at 10:45

    But then you have to regurlarly change your disposable gloves for new ones and I see generally people do not do that.
    It always strikes me that people put those things on and keep them on all day so then the effect is still zero. Believe me I know
    this from experience I saw it with my own eyes.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUPPORT US
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Must read

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive daily updates, news & stories about Hungary!

Select your location below or enter your country so we can deliver our morning newsletters to you in time.


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


.

About us

Contact us

Copyright rules

Privacy policy

Advertise with us

© 2023 DailyNewsHungary. All rights reserved! | Server and development by Svigelj Levente E.V
President Novák urges promoting child birth

President Novák urges promoting child birth

Read More
Hungary looking to Turkmenistan for energy

Hungary looking to Turkmenistan for energy

Read More
Do you want to study in Budapest? These are your best university options

Do you want to study in Budapest? These are your best university options

Read More
Hungarian president: “Sanctions have hurt us more than Russia”

Hungarian president: “Sanctions have hurt us more than Russia”

Read More
What happened today in Hungary? — 8 June, 2023

What happened today in Hungary? — 8 June, 2023

Read More
Hungary donates buses to Ukraine

Hungary donates buses to Ukraine

Read More
Wizz Air performs well, but Ryanair performs even better

Wizz Air performs well, but Ryanair performs even better

Read More
Hungarians would rather be closer to the Austrians and Germans than to the Russians

Hungarians would rather be closer to the Austrians and Germans than to the Russians

Read More
You only have to go as far as downtown Budapest to taste authentic Brazilian flavours – A la Gringa

You only have to go as far as downtown Budapest to taste authentic Brazilian flavours – A la Gringa

Read More
Hungarian inflation down but still above 20 percent

Hungarian inflation down but still above 20 percent

Read More
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Have you read it?