A total of three children were diagnosed with this mysterious form of liver inflammation between February and April. According to Sciensano, they are all children aged between 1 month and 10 years. One of the three children, whose infection is the most recent, is currently still hospitalized. A second has never been hospitalized, the third child has already been discharged from hospital.
Sciensano has also re-examined a number of older cases dating back to October 1, 2021. Two other potential cases have been identified, but a definitive decision is excluded as it is no longer possible to continue laboratory research. .
“The investigation of possible new cases is ongoing. We are awaiting further reports, but at the moment it seems that the disease is rare in Belgium. We do not yet know if there is a common cause and if the disease whether or not it is caused by an infection by a virus”, specifies Sciensano.
According to the latest figures from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), there are more than 55 confirmed cases in European Union countries and Norway. Previously, 111 cases had also been reported in the UK. Most patients recovered, but in a few cases acute liver failure required liver transplantation.
