WHO: One Child Dies Due to Mysterious Hepatitis

WHO has received 169 cases reported as acute hepatitis

BERLIN – The World Health Organization (WHO) says one child has died in a mysterious case of liver disease that is spreading in Europe and the United States. WHO has received 169 cases reported as “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” from various countries.

The cases were reported in children aged one month to 16 years. A total of 17 of them had to undergo a liver transplant. The WHO did not say which countries had reported cases.

The first case was recorded in the UK. Until now Britain has recorded 114 children infected with hepatitis.

“It’s not clear if this is an increase in cases hepatitis or raising awareness of hepatitis cases to levels that are predictable but undetectable,” WHO said in a statement on Sunday (24/4/2022).

Experts say these cases may be related to a virus usually associated with the flu. But further research is needed which is currently still ongoing.

“While adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, investigations are underway to determine the cause,” the WHO said.

They noted that the virus had been detected in 74 cases. A total of 20 children of them tested positive for the corona virus. WHO said affected countries were increasing surveillance of cases of hepatitis in children.

source: AP

–