One child has died from hepatitis in mysterious global outbreak
One hepatitis-stricken child has DIED and 17 have needed liver transplants because of mysterious spate of cases first spotted in the UK, WHO says
- 169 cases of ‘acute hepatitis of unknown origin’ have been recorded worldwide
- The World Health Organization did not say which country the death occurred in
- At least 114 cases have been found in Britain and up to 11 were in the US
One child has died and 17 have needed liver transplants because of the mysterious global outbreak of hepatitis.
The World Health Organization said it has received reports of at least 169 cases of ‘acute hepatitis of unknown origin’ from a dozen countries as of Saturday.
Cases were reported in children aged one month to 16 years old, and 17 of those who fell ill required liver transplants.
The UN health agency did not say which country the death occurred in. The first cases were recorded in Britain, where 114 children have been struck with illness.
Thirteen cases have been identified in Spain, 12 were in Israel and 11 have been spotted in the US — nine in Alabama and two in North Carolina.
It has also been found in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Norway, Romania and Belgium.
Covid lockdowns may be behind the mysterious spate of hepatitis cases in children because they reduced social mixing and weakened their immunity, experts claim
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that is usually caused by a viral infection or liver damage from drinking alcohol.
Short-term hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms.
But if some develop they can include dark urine, pale grey-coloured poo, itchy skin and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
They can also include muscle and joint pain, a high temperature, feeling and being sick and being unusually tired all of the time.
When hepatitis is spread by a virus, it’s usually caused by consuming food and drink contaminated with the faeces of an infected person or blood-to-blood or sexual contact.
Source: NHS
The WHO said: ‘It is not yet clear if there has been an increase in hepatitis cases, or an increase in awareness of hepatitis cases that occur at the expected rate but go undetected.’
However, other scientists have suggested the amount of severe cases in children is unusual.
Richard Pebody, who heads the high threats pathogen team at the WHO’s European division, told STAT: ‘Although the numbers aren’t big, the consequences have been quite severe.
‘It’s important that countries look.’
None of the cases have been caused by any of the five typical strains of the virus — hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
Experts say the cases may be linked to a virus commonly associated with colds, but further research is ongoing.
‘While adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, investigations are ongoing for the causative agent,’ WHO said,
It noted that the virus has been detected in at least 74 of the cases. At least 20 of the children tested positive for the coronavirus.
WHO said affected countries are stepping up their surveillance of hepatitis cases in children.
British experts tasked with investigating the spate of illnesses believe the endless cycle of lockdowns may have played a contributing role, weakening children’s immunity and leaving them at heightened risk of adenovirus.
Other scientists said it may have been a virus that has acquired ‘unusual mutations’.
The UKHSA has noted Covid as well as other infections and environmental triggers are still being probed as possible causes of the illnesses.
The agency ruled out the Covid vaccine as a possible cause, with none of the British cases so far having been vaccinated because of their young age. None of the cases in the US were vaccinated either.
Professor Graham Cooke, an expert in infectious diseases at Imperial College London, said it is unlikely Covid was responsible.
He said: ‘Mild hepatitis is very common in children following a range of viral infections, but what is being seen at the moment is quite different.
‘If the hepatitis was a result of Covid it would be surprising not to see it more widely distributed across the country given the high prevalence of (Covid) at the moment.’
A virology specialist at Imperial told The Telegraph it is ‘very unusual and rare’ for children to suffer severe hepatitis, especially to the extent that they require a liver transplant.
The expert, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘The number of cases is exceptional.
‘It makes people think there is something unusual going on — such as a virus that has mutated or some other cause. It has sent alarm bells ringing.’
Hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms — but they can include dark urine, pale grey-coloured faeces, itchy skin and the yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Infected people can also suffer muscle and joint pain, a high temperature, feeling and being sick and being unusually tired all of the time.
When hepatitis is spread by a virus, it’s usually caused by consuming food and drink contaminated with the faeces of an infected person or blood-to-blood or sexual contact.
Q&A: What is the mysterious global hepatitis outbreak and what is behind it?
What do we know about the global hepatitis outbreak?
Scientists have been left puzzled by a global outbreak of hepatitis that has caused one death and 17 liver transplants.
The inflammatory liver condition has been spotted in at least 169 children aged between one month and 16 years old.
None of the cases have been caused by any of the five typical strains of the virus — hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that is usually caused by a viral infection or liver damage from drinking alcohol.
Hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms — but they can include dark urine, pale grey-coloured faeces, itchy skin and the yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Infected people can also suffer muscle and joint pain, a high temperature, feeling and being sick and being unusually tired all of the time.
When hepatitis is spread by a virus, it’s usually caused by consuming food and drink contaminated with the faeces of an infected person or blood-to-blood or sexual contact.
How many countries have cases been recorded in?
Country
Cases
UK
Spain
Israel
US
Denmark
Ireland
The Netherlands
Italy
France
Norway
Romania
Belgium
114
13
12
11
6
5
4
4
2
2
1
1
Do we know what is behind the outbreak?
The WHO said: ‘It is not yet clear if there has been an increase in hepatitis cases, or an increase in awareness of hepatitis cases that occur at the expected rate but go undetected.’
Experts say the cases may be linked to a virus commonly associated with colds, but further research is ongoing.
‘While adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, investigations are ongoing for the causative agent,’ WHO said,
It noted that the virus has been detected in at least 74 of the cases. At least 20 of the children tested positive for the coronavirus.
British experts tasked with investigating the spate of illnesses believe the endless cycle of lockdowns may have played a contributing role, weakening children’s immunity and leaving them at heightened risk of adenovirus.
Other scientists said it may have been a virus that has acquired ‘unusual mutations’.
The UKHSA has noted Covid as well as other infections and environmental triggers are still being probed as possible causes of the illnesses.
The agency ruled out the Covid vaccine as a possible cause, with none of the British cases so far having been vaccinated because of their age.
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