(Belga) The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that it had identified 348 probable cases of hepatitis of unknown origin, and favored the hypothesis of an adenovirus to explain this mysterious disease which mainly affects children.
According to the WHO, these cases of hepatitis of unexplained origin have been identified in 20 countries. A total of 70 other suspected cases, identified in 13 countries, are waiting to be confirmed by tests. Only six countries have more than five cases, but the UK alone has reported 160 patients. The United Kingdom had initially reported to the WHO on April 5 ten cases of severe hepatitis in Scotland, in children under ten years old. In the United States, health authorities said Friday they were investigating 109 similar cases, including five fatalities. Three children also died in Indonesia. After the discovery of the first 169 cases, the WHO indicated that the hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses had not been detected in any of the patients. Most patients presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, or jaundice. Some cases have caused liver failure and required transplantation. (Belga)
