Simultaneous infection with two common viruses is thought to explain a recent surge in childhood hepatitis cases, which has led to 12 UK children requiring liver transplants so far.
Two research groups have detected high levels of adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) – a little-known virus not previously associated with human disease – in almost all of the affected British children they have tested. AAV2 is unable to replicate by itself but can do so in the presence of a second virus.
