Hepatitis E is an inflammation of the liver, caused by the hepatitis E virus. This virus was thought to be rare in Europe and more often found in India or Africa. However, since more people have been tested for this virus, the reported number of cases in Europe has been rising.

The infection is usually acute, generally goes away on its own and is not usually chronic. However, for women in the final trimester of pregnancy, hepatitis E can be life-threatening and in up to 20% of cases is fatal. Chronic cases are possible in transplant patients, people on dialysis, people living with HIV or AIDS or people who have a suppressed immune system for other reasons.