WHO reports around 170 hepatitis cases of unknown origin in children
Geneva (Switzerland), April 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded nearly 170 cases of Hepatitis of unknown origin among children, with at least one fatality already confirmed.
Cases are aged 1 month to 16 years old, with 17 children (approximately 10%) have required liver transplantation.
"As of 21 April 2022, at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin have been reported from 11 countries in the WHO European Region and one country in the WHO Region of the Americas," the WHO informed on Saturday.
"Cases have been reported in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom) (114), Spain (13), Israel (12), the United States of America (9), Denmark (6), Ireland (5), The Netherlands (4), Italy (4), Norway (2), France (2), Romania (1), and Belgium (1)," it further said.
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The United Kingdom, where the majority of cases are reported, has recently observed a significant rise in adenovirus infections in the community (particularly detected in faecal samples in children) after low levels of circulation earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic.
At least 20 of the patients tested positive for Covid-19 and 19 had SARS-CoV-2 and adenovirus co-infection.
"The common viruses that cause acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E) have not been detected in any of these cases. International travel or links to other countries based on the currently available information have not been identified as factors," according to WHO.
The organization also specified that travel restrictions are not necessary for the current situation.
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-PTC News
