Cases of unknown pediatric hepatitis, first identified in the UK, have been identified in children in four other European countries, European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC).
“Following cases of unknown acute hepatitis detected by the British Health Insurance Agency in early April, ‘additional cases of children have been reported in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain,'” the European Union said in a statement.
Nine suspected cases were also identified in children aged 1 to 6 years in Alabama, United Statesaccording to the ECDC.
“Investigations are ongoing in all countries reporting cases. At this time, the exact cause of hepatitis remains unknown, “writes the ECDC, but British researchers” believe that an infectious cause is the most likely due to the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the cases. “
The manufacture, the World Health Organization (WHO) had announced that it was waiting for new cases to be announced in the coming days and had already reported “less than five” cases in Ireland and three in Spain.
The ECDC, contacted by Agence France-Presse, was unable to report the number of cases per country.
No deaths have been reported, but in some cases a liver transplant has been needed in Britain.
“Laboratory case studies have ruled out viral hepatitis A, B, C, D and E in all cases,” according to the ECDC.
In a first phase, the United Kingdom announced on April 5 to the WHO 10 cases of severe hepatitis in Scotlandbefore announcing three days later a total of 74 cases, according to the UN.
Among the British cases, “many had signs of jaundice”.
“Some cases have had gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting in recent weeks.”according to the ECDC.
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