What do we know about the global hepatitis outbreak?
Scientists are puzzled by a worldwide outbreak of hepatitis that has caused one death and 17 liver transplants.
Inflammatory liver disease has been identified in at least 169 children aged between one month and 16 years.
None of the cases were caused by any of the five typical strains of the virus – hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection or liver damage from alcohol consumption.
Hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms — but they can include dark urine, light gray stools, itchy skin, and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Infected people may also experience muscle and joint pain, fever, nausea, and constant unusual tiredness.
When hepatitis is transmitted by a virus, it is usually caused by eating food and drink contaminated with an infected person’s feces or by blood-to-blood or sexual contact.
In how many countries have cases been registered?
United Kingdom
US*
Spain
Israel
Denmark
Ireland
The Netherlands
Italy
France
Norway
Romania
Belgium
Japan*
Canada*
114
20
13
12
six
Less than five
Four
Four
Two
Two
A
A
A
Unspecified number
*Cases in Canada, Japan and Illinois, USA, are yet to be confirmed
Do we know what’s behind the outbreak?
co-infection
Experts say the cases may be linked to a virus commonly associated with the common cold, but further research is ongoing.
In combination with Covid infections, this could lead to an increase in some cases.
The adenovirus reported by the WHO was detected in at least 74 of the cases. At least 20 of the children have tested positive for the coronavirus.
weakened immunity
British experts tasked with investigating the wave of the disease believe the endless cycle of lockdowns may have played a role.
Restrictions may have weakened children’s immunity due to less social mixing, putting them at increased risk of adenovirus.
Public Health Scotland researchers said more children could be “immunologically naïve” to the virus due to restrictions.
adenovirus mutation
Other scientists said it could have been a virus that acquired “unusual mutations”.
This would mean that it is more transmissible or better able to bypass children’s natural immunity.
New Covid variant
UKHSA officials included “a new variant of SARS-CoV-2” in their working hypotheses as they discussed the variant at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Lisbon.
Other theories
The UKHSA has noted that Covid, as well as other infections and environmental triggers, are still under investigation as possible causes of the diseases.
The agency ruled out the Covid vaccine as a possible cause as none of the UK cases have so far been vaccinated because of their age.