Following the emergence of acute hepatitis in previously healthy children in the UK, an estimated 55 such cases have occurred so far in the European Economic Area (EEA), including one in Germany.
Twelve EEA countries have now reported suspected or confirmed cases, according to a risk assessment by the EU health authority ECDC published Thursday night.
The illness of a five-year-old has been reported in Germany: she was hospitalized in January with symptoms of acute hepatitis and had previously suffered from gastrointestinal problems. The child tested positive for adenovirus but negative for corona virus. No additional information was given.
In addition to 111 cases in Britain, there were also twelve cases in the US and Israel and one in Japan. So far, most young patients have recovered from the infection, but some have developed acute liver failure, requiring liver transplantation.
As ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said on Tuesday, the exact cause behind the hepatitis cases is still unclear. Previous investigations have indicated a connection with infections of children with adenovirus.
The EEA includes the 27 countries of the European Union, as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. So far, there have been cases in this area in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Romania and Spain.
According to the ECDC, the incidence is very low, even if there is no systematic surveillance. As the pathogen is still unknown, the risk to the infant population cannot be accurately estimated at this time.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported on the first German case on Tuesday night. The onset of the disease was therefore already in January. No additional details were given.