Infectious disease trends in the Czech Republic

Public health data from the Czech Republic shows diverging trends across different infectious diseases.

In Prague, the spread of Hepatitis A is experiencing a “consistent downward trend.” In August, the capital recorded only nine new cases, a significant decrease from the 133 cases reported in the same month the previous year. While the South Moravian Region has seen the highest number of infections nationwide, the overall number of Hepatitis A cases remains much lower than the major outbreak recorded last year.

Conversely, the country is seeing record-breaking increases in Hepatitis C and HIV infections. Hepatitis C cases rose by nearly 40 percent compared to the same period last year, with transmission notably prevalent among intravenous drug users and in unregulated settings like prisons. Simultaneously, HIV infection rates are trending toward new highs, with 179 new cases recorded in the first half of the year. Medical professionals attribute these rises to factors including decreased condom use, lower testing rates, and the arrival of foreign nationals from regions with higher prevalence.

Recent data from the National Institute of Public Health (SZÚ) indicates that Hepatitis C cases have reached a decade-high level, with between 1,368 and 1,486 cases recorded this year. However, health officials clarify that approximately 90% of these are not new infections, but rather long-standing chronic cases identified through improved diagnostic methods and electronic reporting systems. Risk factors continue to include intravenous drug use, tattooing in unregulated facilities, and living in socially excluded communities.

Regarding HIV, the SZÚ recorded 179 new cases from January to July, representing a 10.5% increase over the same period last year. This follows a record-breaking 2023, which saw 293 new cases. Professionals are urging increased prevention and early testing to prevent progression to AIDS.