US investigates death of 5 children from mysterious hepatitis

The health authorities of the United States announced this Friday (6) that they are investigating 109 cases of a type of serious hepatitis in children, five of them fatal.

Cases of severe liver inflammation have been detected in 25 states and territories across the country in children with an average age of just two years, a senior official at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) told a news conference. .

Outside the United States, more than 200 cases have been identified, especially in Europe, another official said. On Thursday, Argentina and Panama reported a first case each. Already this Friday, the Ministry of Health of Brazil reported that it is monitoring seven suspected cases of the disease, four in Rio de Janeiro and three in Paraná.

Due to their young age, most of the affected children had not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19.

“Covid-19 vaccination is not the cause of the disease,” said Jay Butler, deputy director of the CDC’s department of infectious diseases, defying rumors circulating on the internet.

However, it has not been ruled out as a possible cause of Covid-19 infection.

The health authority privileges, however, the possibility of a very common type of adenovirus, but still unknown, as the cause of hepatitis in healthy children.

It has been confirmed that more than half of sick children in the US have tested positive for the so-called adenovirus type 41.

“Researchers in the country and around the world are working hard to determine the cause,” said Jay Butler.

The cases in the United States have occurred during the past seven months, he said. Among those affected, 14% had to undergo a liver transplant.

“We know this news can be worrying, especially for parents of young children. It’s important to remember that cases of severe hepatitis are rare,” said Butler.

In total, 90% of the affected children had to be hospitalized, but most have recovered.