Beijing, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The British Health Security Agency reported on April 29 that 34 new cases of hepatitis of unknown cause have been detected in the United Kingdom since the 25th, and the cumulative number of cases has increased to 145. Among them, 10 children received liver transplants and there have been no deaths.
The Health Safety Agency said the increase in cases could be linked to adenovirus infection and was also investigating other possible causes, such as environmental factors.
The UK was the first to report multiple cases of unexplained hepatitis in children in early April. Richard Pebodi, an infectious disease expert at the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe, said on the 28th that WHO has recorded about 170 such cases, distributed in 16 countries, most of which are concentrated in Europe.
This is an ambulance photographed outside a hospital in Liverpool, England, on April 1. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Jon Humper)
According to WHO data, 17 patients were in severe condition and required liver transplantation, and 1 patient died.
In the United States, unexplained cases of childhood hepatitis have occurred in at least 4 states, and at least 18 cases have been reported. Alabama was the first to report such cases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on the 29th that all 9 cases in Alabama had been treated in children's hospitals. The above cases were recorded from October 2021 to February 2022, and the children were between the ages of 1 and 6 years, and two of them were in serious condition and received liver transplants. All children have recovered or are recovering. These children have no record of covid-19 infection; test negative for hepatitis A, B, C and other hepatitis viruses; and positive for adenovirus type 41.
Two children watch a St. Patrick's Day parade in London, England, on March 13. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ying
The CDC says adenovirus may be responsible for hepatitis in the children mentioned above, and is investigating other possible causes, such as environmental factors. Adenovirus type 41 can cause gastroenteritis in children, but "is not generally considered the cause of hepatitis in healthy children."
According to the CDC, families of children in Alabama live in multiple areas of the state and there is no epidemiological link. The symptoms before admission were mainly vomiting and diarrhea, some of which showed upper respiratory tract symptoms, and after admission, many children were found to have enlarged livers and jaundice.
Nationwide investigations continue. Four cases have been reported in Wisconsin, including one case requiring liver transplantation and one case of illness and death.
Dozens of adenoviruses are known, many of which are associated with cold symptoms, fever, sore throat, etc., and some adenoviruses may trigger inflammation of the stomach and intestines. (Chen Lixi)