The World Health Organization has reported that the number of global cases of acute childhood hepatitis of unknown origin since this disease was detected in early April rises to 650 in 33 countries . In addition, it has detailed that nine of the children died and 38 needed a liver transplant.

58 % of cases have been diagnosed in Europe and the United Kingdom, where this disease was first reported on April 5, is the country with the most confirmed infections (222), followed by the United States (216), Japan (31) , Spain (27) and Italy (21).

Another 99 cases are suspected of having contracted this disease, the causes of which remain unknown and remain under investigation , the WHO report said.

Three-quarters of the cases have occurred in children under five years of age, while an adenovirus was identified in at least 181, a pathogen that frequently causes childhood hepatitis, although it rarely develops acute forms of the disease.
“Most cases appear to be unrelated to each other,” stressed the WHO report, which is investigating common sources of exposure, similar risk factors and other links.

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