More than 1,000 probable cases of unknown severe acute hepatitis have been detected in children across several countries. As many as 22 children have died since the disease was discovered on April 5. Here’s what WHO has to say-:
What does WHO have to say about it?
The World Health Organisation has said “As of 8 July 2022, 35 countries in five WHO Regions have reported 1010 probable cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children, which fulfil the WHO case definition, including 22 deaths. Since the previous Disease Outbreak News published on 24 June 2022, 90 new probable cases and four additional deaths have been reported to WHO,” the UN health agency said in its update on Wednesday. “Additionally, two new countries, Luxembourg and Costa Rica have reported probable cases.”
Out of those five regions, almost half, i.e., 48 per cent of the probable cases have been reported from the European countries, in which 21 countries have registered 484 cases. Of those, the UK and Northern Ireland combined have found 272 cases.
Cases in other countries
The second highest number of probable cases have been reported from the American continent. It includes 334 cases from the United States of America, followed by the Western Pacific Region (70 cases), the South-East Asia region (19) and the Eastern Mediterranean region (2).
Seventeen countries are reporting more than five probable cases. However, the WHO suspects it to be a case of undercounting due to limited enhanced surveillance systems.
“The actual number of cases may be underestimated due to the limited enhanced surveillance systems in place. The case count is expected to change as more information and verified data become available,” the WHO said.
WHO said that it is closely monitoring the unexplained spread of hepatitis in previously healthy children. Among these almost dozens are in need of life-saving liver transplants.
While analysing the laboratory tests, WHO said that hepatitis A to E had not been present in the affected children. However, other pathogens such as the coronavirus were detected in a number of cases. But the data is incomplete, the UN health agency said.