In the United Kingdom, dozens of children have become ill in recent months due to a hepatitis infection. This is reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). There are 73 confirmed cases of acute hepatitis, ten of which are in Scotland. The WHO speaks of an unexpected, significant increase.
The infected children developed nausea, jaundice, diarrhea and abdominal pain. It concerns hepatitis infections that do not fall within virus variants A, B, C, D and E. The origin of the virus is unknown and is still under investigation, according to the WHO.
Some children were also infected with the coronavirus. The infections may be related, but whether that is really the case has not yet been established, the organization says.
Other countries
There are also reports of hepatitis infections with the unknown variant in other countries. In Spain, three cases have been reported in children between 22 months and 13 years old, and in the US nine infections have been detected in children between 1 and 6 years old. Five reports have also been made in Ireland, but have yet to be confirmed by the WHO.
More cases of hepatitis infections are likely to be discovered in the coming days, the WHO warns. The organization is calling on countries to investigate and report possible cases of hepatitis infections.
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