Hepatitis A Outbreak Closes Prague Restaurant: Nine Infected

Nine Infected at One Establishment

Public health officials in Prague have confirmed a hepatitis A outbreak at a restaurant in the Dlabačov area of Prague 6. A total of nine people—eight patrons and the owner—have contracted hepatitis A. The restaurant has been temporarily closed following an investigation, and all contacts of those infected are being traced as epidemiological investigations continue.

According to a spokesperson for the Prague public health authority, the most likely period of infection is identified as the week of January 26 to February 1, 2026. Health officials are therefore urging all guests who visited the restaurant during that period to seek medical examination. Early detection allows vaccination to prevent the development of the disease and mandatory quarantine.

Serious Hygiene Deficiencies

Inspectors from the food hygiene and anti-epidemic departments discovered unsatisfactory personal and operational hygiene during the investigation at the restaurant. The authority has not disclosed specific violations, citing the ongoing investigation, but emphasized that failure to comply with basic hygiene rules—especially hand washing and proper food handling—poses a direct risk of spreading hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A spreads via the fecal-oral route, most often through contaminated food or water, or through direct contact with an infected person. The incubation period is two to six weeks, which significantly complicates epidemiological investigations—guests may not associate the illness with a restaurant visit until several weeks later.

Prague at the Epicenter of a National Epidemic

The case in Prague 6 is not isolated. Since January 1, 2026, Prague has recorded a total of 159 cases of hepatitis A, while at the national level, 370 new cases had already been reported by the beginning of February, one of which resulted in death—a homeless person with a pre-existing liver condition from the Central Bohemia region.

The National Institute of Public Health (SZÚ) warns that the Czech Republic has been facing a deteriorating epidemiological situation for a long time. In the entire year of 2025, more than 3,255 cases of hepatitis A and 39 deaths were recorded—the worst figures since 1989. Experts predict a gradual decline for 2026, but this depends on improving the availability of vaccines and the public's willingness to get vaccinated.

Prevention and Appeal from the Public Health Authority

Health officials emphasize that vaccination against hepatitis A is the most reliable prevention. The vaccine is effective even if administered within two weeks of contact with an infected person. Basic hygiene measures are also crucial: thorough hand washing, proper cooking of food, and consumption of drinking water from reliable sources.

The Prague restaurant case reopens the debate about the systematic nature of inspections of catering establishments. Experts are calling for stricter penalties for hygiene offenses and regular unannounced inspections, which would serve as an effective preventive tool. The public health authority has not released the name of the restaurant due to the ongoing investigation.