BANGKOK, THAILAND – Health authorities reported a sharp rise in Hepatitis A infections in 2026, with hundreds of cases already registered nationwide.
651 cases already reported in 2026
According to figures from the Department of Disease Control (DDC), a total of 651 Hepatitis A cases were reported in Thailand in 2026. This number was significantly higher than in recent years, and experts described the trend as clearly increasing.
The data indicated that infections continued to rise as the year progressed. Health officials warned that people who believed they were not affected were underestimating the risk.
Working-age adults most affected
The current wave primarily affected people in active employment. The most frequently infected group was those aged between 30 and 39, followed by those between 40 and 49.
Young adults from the age of 20 were also heavily affected. These were exactly the people who moved daily between workplaces, restaurants, public transport and shopping centers, and could pass on the virus without realizing it.
Long incubation before visible symptoms
The course of Hepatitis A was described as insidious. At first, those infected typically felt weak, experienced mild fever, loss of appetite and nausea, symptoms that could easily be dismissed as harmless.
Before the characteristic jaundice, with yellowing of the skin and eyes, appeared, up to 30 days could pass. This meant that infected individuals could move around for as long as four weeks without knowing they were contagious and could transmit the virus to others.
Transmission via food, water and poor hygiene
The virus was transmitted primarily through contaminated food and water. Anyone who consumed polluted food or drank dirty water risked infection, and even a single unclean hand after using the toilet without proper washing could be enough.
Close living and working environments such as shared housing, schools and factories were considered particularly risky. Everywhere that many people lived or worked together in a confined space, the virus found it especially easy to spread.
Simple hygiene rules can curb spread
Health officials emphasized that protection against infection was possible with simple measures. Thorough handwashing with soap rather than briefly rinsing with water, drinking only boiled or bottled water, and proper storage and preparation of food were highlighted as key steps.
These measures might appear banal, but they were decisive in slowing the spread of the disease. Consistent hygiene practices were described as crucial to protecting both individuals and the wider community.