WHO: "Unexplained Pediatric Hepatitis Cases Occur in Europe... Some Severe Enough to Require Liver Transplant"

Similar Patients Reported in UK, Spain, and Ireland
Similar Cases Also in the US... "Investigating Adenovirus and Other Links"

A child is receiving a COVID-19 test from a health worker in Lyon, France. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by AP Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] Cases of unexplained pediatric hepatitis have been discovered in Europe, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to launch an investigation.

According to reports from AFP, AP, and other agencies, on the 15th (local time), WHO is analyzing severe pediatric hepatitis cases that differ from known types such as hepatitis A and B.

These hepatitis cases differ from known types like hepatitis A and B and exhibit severe symptoms, with some requiring liver transplants. Some experts have suggested a possible link between the recent rapid spread of adenovirus and this disease.

More than 74 cases have been reported in the United Kingdom, with similar patients also appearing in Spain and Ireland.

Earlier this month, WHO identified a disease different from known hepatitis types in 10 children with liver abnormalities in Scotland.

Subsequently, UK health authorities identified at least 64 children with similar conditions.

Patients with acute hepatitis symptoms were mainly children under 10 years old, showing jaundice, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

According to WHO, there have been no deaths, but six patients are in serious condition requiring liver transplants.

WHO stated that some patients tested positive for COVID-19 or the recently spreading adenovirus, but the correlation has not yet been verified, requiring further research.

Similar cases found in the United States, totaling nine, all occurred in Alabama, and health authorities are currently investigating whether there are related patients in other states.

Authorities are reviewing the connection with adenovirus, and AP reported that the ages of the US patients ranged from 1 to 6 years old, with two requiring liver transplants.

Alabama has been investigating the increase in pediatric hepatitis since November last year and stated that patients tested positive for adenovirus, analyzing the possible link with adenovirus type 41, which is associated with intestinal inflammation.