U.S. health authorities announced Friday, May 6, that they are investigating 109 unexplained cases of childhood hepatitis in the United States, five of which resulted in death.
These severe cases of liver inflammation have been identified in 25 states and U.S. territories, and the median age of affected children is just 2 years old, a CDC official said in a news release. Outside the United States, more than 200 cases have been identified, especially in Europe.
Vaccinations against Covid-19 ‘not the reason’
“Vaccination against Covid-19 is not the reason” Jay Butler, the CDC’s deputy director for infectious diseases, insisted that he wants to end the rumors circulating on the Internet. Due to their young age, most of the children involved are ineligible for the Covid-19 vaccine.
He clarified that Covid-19 infection has not been ruled out as an underlying cause. However, the CDC tends to track a certain type of adenovirus — a fairly common virus that wasn’t previously known to cause hepatitis in healthy children.More than half of affected children in the U.S. confirmed to have tested positive for adenovirus “Type 41”. “Investigators here and around the world are working to determine the cause”guaranteed Jay Butler.
The U.S. cases have occurred within the past seven months, he said. If 90% of children have to be hospitalized, in most cases they will recover. Of these, 14% required a liver transplant. “We know this news can be concerning, especially for parents of young children. It’s important to remember that these severe forms of hepatitis are rare”to reassure Mr. Butler.