US health authorities have just announced that an investigation is underway into 109 cases of severe hepatitis of unknown origin detected in children, including five reported deaths.
The cases have been identified over the past seven months in 25 states and territories, Dr. Jay Butler, deputy director of infectious diseases at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a conference call on Friday. .
He said regarding half of the 109 children diagnosed with hepatitis were also infected with a type of adenovirus, a virus that causes the common cold, but the agency is still investigating the exact cause of the disease.
The new update from health authorities follows investigations in the United States and Europe into clusters of hepatitis in young children. The CDC said they are working with their counterparts in Europe to understand the cause of these infections which can cause liver damage and lead to liver failure.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are five main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E. Viruses B and C are the most common and cause 1.1 million deaths and 3 million new infections per year.
The UN agency has put in place a global hepatitis strategy aimed at reducing new infections with hepatitis B and C viruses by 90% and 65% between 2016 and 2030.
With MAP
