BUDAPEST, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK) on Friday reported a further increase in hepatitis A infections this year, urging the public to maintain strict hand hygiene as the most effective preventive measure.
By Nov. 19, Hungary had registered 1,648 cases, with the highest numbers recorded in Budapest, as well as in Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen and Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg counties in the northeastern part of Hungary. Men accounted for 56 percent of patients and women for 44 percent. Most infections occurred among children aged 3 to 14, while four adults with underlying chronic illnesses died from complications.
According to the center, the virus spreads primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through contaminated hands, food or water, particularly in environments with poor sanitation. Many infections remain asymptomatic, meaning individuals who feel healthy may still transmit the virus. Typical symptoms -- including abdominal pain, nausea, fever and later jaundice -- can appear after an incubation period of around one month.
The center stressed that regular handwashing and personal hygiene are key to slowing transmission, as infected patients may shed the virus even before symptoms develop. Close contacts of confirmed cases, such as household members, are eligible for free vaccination, organized by local epidemiological authorities and supplied by NNGYK.
