The World Health Organization (WHO) said that at least one child has died and 17 have required liver transplants in an outbreak of hepatitis in the United States, United Kingdom, and other European nations.
A news release from the U.N. health agency, which came after a nationwide alert from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that “there have been continuing further reports of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin among young children.”
“It is not yet clear if there has been an increase in hepatitis cases, or an increase in awareness of hepatitis cases that occur at the expected rate but go undetected. While adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, investigations are ongoing for the causative agent,” according to WHO.
So far, one death has been reported, while 17 children—or about 10 percent of the total children who are affected—have required liver transplantation, the WHO said. It did not provide more details about the cases, including where the death occurred.
The UK has the most cases with 114, according to WHO’s data. Spain is next with 13, then Israel with 12, and the United States with nine. The children affected range from one month to 16 years of age, WHO said.
Symptoms of those who are affected include diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice—or yellowing of the skin and whites of eyes—and abdominal pain.
Last week, the CDC issued a nationwide alert regarding an outbreak of hepatitis among a cluster of children in Alabama. The agency said five of those nine children also had adenovirus Type 41.
“Five pediatric patients with significant liver injury, including three with acute liver failure, who also tested positive for adenovirus” were reported by an Alabama children’s hospital to the CDC, according to the federal health agency. Those children were described as healthy by the CDC, which added they did not have COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a viral infection, alcohol, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications acetaminophen, high doses of certain herbal supplements, toxins, and various medical conditions. Hepatitis viruses, which spread via bodily fluids, can also cause liver inflammation.
Reporting from The Epoch Times.
