Reuters and Sputnik
Newspaper La Jornada
Saturday May 28, 2022, p. 7
Geneva. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced yesterday that it has received 650 reports of probable cases of acute hepatitis in children, but added that the causes remain unknown and are under analysis.
According to the organization’s report, the 650 cases have been reported from April 5 to May 26 in 33 countries, with 99 more pending classification.
Health authorities around the world are investigating a mysterious increase in severe cases of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) in young children, which has caused at least nine deaths. In addition, at least 38 liver transplants have been required.
According to the text, three out of four children with acute hepatitis are less than five years old.
US health officials said last week that adenovirus infection, common among infants, is the leading hypothesis behind recent cases of severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children.
Hepatitis linked to this type of adenovirus has been associated almost exclusively with immunocompromised minors.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said it is investigating whether Covid-19 infections could be playing a role, as well as other pathogens, drugs and risk factors.
The WHO assesses the risk on a global scale as moderate, but recognizes that the real number of infected could be higher.
