European health officials have said they have not found a link between cases of a mysterious liver disease outbreak in children.
To date 190 cases of the hepatitis of unknown origin have been reported, 140 of them in Europe. “So far there is no connection between the cases and no association to travel,” said Andrea Ammon, director at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm.
She said the disease appears in previously healthy children, with cases reported across the European continent, in Israel and in the United States. Ms Ammon said some cases have led to acute liver failure that has required a transplant. On Saturday, the World Health Organisation said that at least one death has been reported in connection with the outbreak. The UN health agency said the cases were reported in children aged between one month and 16 years. The WHO did not say in which country the death occurred.
Experts say the cases may be linked to a virus commonly associated with colds, but research is continuing. Of 53 cases tested, 40 (75 per cent) showed signs of adenovirus infection.
Some experts have suggested a lack of exposure to a common virus during Covid restrictions could be behind the surge in hepatitis cases among young children. More than 100 children have needed hospital care - and 10 British children have required liver transplants - as a result of the disease.
Other avenues being explored include whether a prior Covid infection followed by an adenovirus infection could be leading to more severe cases or co-infection with the two viruses. Experts are also examining other possible causes including a new variant of adenovirus; potential exposure to drugs, toxins or environmental factors; a new type of infection; or a new variant of the virus which causes Covid.
None of the cases investigated so far had received a Covid vaccination. Of the confirmed cases in the UK, 81 live in England, 14 are in Scotland, 11 are in Wales and five are in Northern Ireland.
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