On April 28, local time, the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement that, as of April 20, 111 cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology had been identified in the UK as of April 20, after the UK first reported an increase in cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology among healthy children on April 5. age and younger cases.
As of April 27, 12 EU/EEA countries have reported around 55 suspected and confirmed cases.
The United States has reported 12 cases, Israel 12 and Japan one.
The clinical presentation is severe acute hepatitis requiring hospitalization with jaundice and marked elevation of hepatic transaminases.
Information on the outcome of the case is still being collected.
To date, most patients for whom information is available have recovered, but some have developed acute liver failure requiring liver transplantation.
The incidence in the EU/EEA is very low, and as the causative agent of reported acute hepatitis cases is still unknown and under investigation, it is currently impossible to accurately assess risk in the European paediatric population.
Due to the unknown etiology, effective control measures cannot be identified at this stage.
Young children are more likely to be exposed to viruses such as adenovirus through the fecal-oral route.
Therefore, the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that good hygiene practices (including hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection) be enhanced in settings with young children.
(Headquarters reporter Hao Xiaoli)