Mystery child hepatitis outbreak passes 1,000 recorded cases: WHO
Geneva (Switzerland), July 14: The puzzling rise of hepatitis in previously healthy children, which has left dozens in need of life-saving liver transplants, has been closely monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Since the outbreak was first discovered on April 5, 35 countries in five different parts of the world have already reported more than 1,010 probable cases of unexplained severe acute hepatitis, or liver inflammation, in young people. As of July 8, 2022, 35 countries in five WHO regions have reported 1010 probable cases of severe acute hepatitis in children with unknown complications that meet the WHO case definition, including 22 fatalities.
90 new probable cases and four more fatalities have been reported to WHO since the previous Disease Outbreak News was issued on June 24, 2022. In addition, two new countries, Luxembourg and Costa Rica have reported probable cases, the World Health Organization said in a new statement on Wednesday.
Almost half of the suspected cases—484 in all—have been recorded in Europe, where 21 nations have so far reported 22 child deaths.
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This includes 272 cases in the United Kingdom, which accounts for 27% of the global total. The Western Pacific Region (70 cases), Southeast Asia (19), and the Eastern Mediterranean (2) have the next highest caseloads.
According to the most recent review by the UN health agency, there is a "moderate risk" that this paediatric hepatitis outbreak may expand.
The most frequently reported symptoms, out of 100 probable cases with clinical data, were nausea or vomiting (60% of cases), jaundice (53%), overall weakness (52%) and abdominal pain (50 per cent).
According to laboratory tests, the affected children did not have hepatitis A to E. The UN health agency said that other infections, such as the coronavirus, were found in a number of patients but that the data was insufficient.
Adenoviruses have been "the most frequently detected pathogen" in cases of paediatric hepatitis, according to the WHO. These viruses are responsible for a wide range of ailments, including colds, fever, sore throats, and pneumonia.
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-PTC News
