WASHINGTON (Washington Insider Magazine) – Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed Friday that at least 109 children have been affected by unusual instances of hepatitis with no known origin, with 5 of them dying.
The instances, which have been reported in 25 states and territories over the last 7 months, came just days after World Health Organization authorities indicated that they were looking into similar cases throughout the world.
In the United States, more than 90% of the individuals under examination were hospitalized, 14% had liver transplants, and over half had adenovirus infection, a prevalent virus that may cause a range of disorders. According to authorities, the majority of these kids have entirely recovered.
Officials recognised that the rise in cases is concerning, but said severe pediatric hepatitis infections are still uncommon.
Officials highlighted that the situation is fluid, and that researchers are “casting a wide net” to figure out what’s causing the breakouts.
Officials said they are collaborating with public health specialists from all over the world to better understand the worldwide outbreak of cases. According to World Health Organization experts, roughly 278 incidents have been detected worldwide, with the majority of the sick youngsters under the age of ten.
According to ABC NEWS, none of the main hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, delta, and E) have been linked to the cases, and officials suspect there is no link to the COVID-19 vaccination because many youngsters either were not yet eligible to be vaccinated or had not been vaccinated.
Officials have consistently said that the cause of this alarming outbreak is yet unknown.
Other factors, such as environmental access — including drugs, animals, or other ailments the children may have, are unknown, according to Dr. Jay Butler, the CDC’s deputy director for infectious diseases.
Adenovirus remains “at the top of the list” of viruses of concern, and one of the primary hypotheses put out by experts as to what is driving the outbreak.
Although no confirmed relationship to COVID-19 has been found in the 9 instances of severe hepatitis among youngsters in Alabama, Butler stated that a possible link to COVID-19 is still being investigated.
Parents should be aware of any alarming signs associated with hepatitis, including light-colored feces, black urine, skin yellowing, and vomiting, according to health professionals. Officials advised parents to call their child’s healthcare provider if they had any concerns about their child’s symptoms.
Parents should also take daily preventative measures to protect their children from infections, such as covering sneezes and coughs, avoiding touching the mouth, nose, or eyes, avoiding sick individuals, and regular hand washing.
