The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) announced on Tuesday that cases of Childhood hepatitis of unknown origin in Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Denmarkwhich are added to those already notified in the United Kingdom at the beginning of April.
“Investigations continue in all countries reporting cases. Currently, the exact origin of hepatitis remains unknown“, reported the European agency through a statement.
“Following reported cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin by the UK Health Security Agency, additional cases were reported in children in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain,” the ECDC said.
#JustPublished:
Update: #Hepatitis of unknown origin in children.Following the reports of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin by the @UKHSAadditional cases in children have been reported in #Denmark, #Irelandthe #Netherlandsand #Spain.https://t.co/TESh75rH4A
— ECDC Outbreaks (@ECDC_Outbreaks) April 19, 2022
They were also identified nine suspected cases in children aged 1 to 6 years in Alabama, United Statesaccording to the AFP news agency.
Regarding the origin of the disease, British researchers consider that “most likely to be infectious due to clinical and epidemiological features of the cases”.
On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said to expect new cases in the coming days, confirming “less than five” in Ireland and three in Spain.
Contacted by AFP, the ECDC was unable to provide the number of cases per country.
No deaths have been reported so far, but some patients in the UK have required liver transplants.
No deaths have been reported so far, but some patients in the UK have required liver transplants.
Meanwhile, laboratory studies of all cases ruled out viral hepatitis of type A, B, C, D or E, according to the ECDC.
On April 5, the United Kingdom had notified the WHO about 10 cases of severe hepatitis in Scotlandbefore reporting a total of 74 three days later.
Among the British cases, “many showed signs of jaundice and some patients reported gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting in previous weeks,” according to the ECDC.
