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April 26, 2022

Anna Murray 

Since the WHO Disease Outbreak News on "Acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" was issued on April 15, there have been more reports of acute hepatitis of unknown causes among young children. As of April 21, at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin had been reported from 11 countries. As a result of the incidents, at least one child has died, and 17 have received liver transplants. The kids' ages ranged from one month to sixteen years.

The World Health Organization was notified on April 5 of ten cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children under the age of ten in central Scotland. By April 8, 74 cases had been identified in the United Kingdom. Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, and E, the most common viruses that cause acute viral hepatitis, were not found in any of the patients after laboratory testing. As a result, additional research is being conducted to determine the cause of these cases.

The WHO is closely monitoring the cases and working with health officials in the United Kingdom and other WHO member countries. Following relatively low levels of circulation earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom has seen a significant increase in adenovirus infections in the community, particularly in fecal samples from children. Based on blood sample data, UK scientists have narrowed in on a specific type of adenovirus, but they will need to confirm its genetic makeup.