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Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/pediatric-hepatitis-outbreak-real-top-who-physician-weighs
Is the pediatric hepatitis outbreak real? A top WHO physician weighs in
Philippa Easterbrook says more data, expected soon, may illuminate which countries are experiencing a genuine outbreak—and its cause
28 Jun 20225:45 PMByMeredith Wadman
It has been 3 months since the United Kingdom reported severe, unexplained hepatitis was sending young children to hospitals in unusual numbers. The initial handful of cases reported in Scotland on 31 March were soon joined by dozens and then hundreds, primarily from Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom. As of 22 June, the global total, from 33 countries, has swollen to 920 probable cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on 24 June. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the same day that U.S. cases through 15 June numbered 296.
Yet after weeks of intensive effort by scientists, the cause of the acute liver inflammation that has killed 18 of the children globally and led to liver transplants in 41 others remains unclear. Adenovirus infection, SARS-CoV-2 infection or a delayed reaction to it, or a combination of both, are on the list of possible culprits.
Recent data raise questions as to whether these cases constitute a true outbreak. One survey published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in May found elevated case numbers in some countries, but another survey did not. Researchers at CDC this month reported no increase, compared with prepandemic levels, in pediatric liver transplants, U.S. emergency room visits, or hospitalizations for pediatric hepatitis between October 2021 and March. Nor did they find more adenovirus in stool samples from children during this period, compared with before the pandemic...
Is the pediatric hepatitis outbreak real? A top WHO physician weighs in
Philippa Easterbrook says more data, expected soon, may illuminate which countries are experiencing a genuine outbreak—and its cause
28 Jun 20225:45 PMByMeredith Wadman
It has been 3 months since the United Kingdom reported severe, unexplained hepatitis was sending young children to hospitals in unusual numbers. The initial handful of cases reported in Scotland on 31 March were soon joined by dozens and then hundreds, primarily from Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom. As of 22 June, the global total, from 33 countries, has swollen to 920 probable cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on 24 June. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the same day that U.S. cases through 15 June numbered 296.
Yet after weeks of intensive effort by scientists, the cause of the acute liver inflammation that has killed 18 of the children globally and led to liver transplants in 41 others remains unclear. Adenovirus infection, SARS-CoV-2 infection or a delayed reaction to it, or a combination of both, are on the list of possible culprits.
Recent data raise questions as to whether these cases constitute a true outbreak. One survey published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in May found elevated case numbers in some countries, but another survey did not. Researchers at CDC this month reported no increase, compared with prepandemic levels, in pediatric liver transplants, U.S. emergency room visits, or hospitalizations for pediatric hepatitis between October 2021 and March. Nor did they find more adenovirus in stool samples from children during this period, compared with before the pandemic...