WHO "Unexplained Pediatric Acute Hepatitis Spreading"... 22 Deaths Among 1010 Cases
The number of pediatric acute hepatitis patients has surpassed 1,000 as the disease spreads across various countries worldwide. The photo shows Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Photo by Yonhap News.
View original image[Asia Economy Reporter Intern Lee Gyehwa] The number of pediatric acute hepatitis cases of unknown cause spreading across various countries has surpassed 1,000 worldwide.
On the 13th (local time), the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on its website that 1,010 cases of pediatric acute hepatitis, including 22 deaths, have been reported from 35 countries. In South Korea, suspected cases were reported in May, but none were classified as confirmed cases.
Since the first suspected case of pediatric acute hepatitis appeared in October last year, infection cases have been continuously reported worldwide. This acute hepatitis is not caused by the conventional viral hepatitis types A, B, C, D, or E. It is generally known to present with gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, followed by severe acute hepatitis, a sharp increase in liver enzyme levels, and jaundice.
Research is ongoing based on the fact that adenovirus, which primarily causes respiratory illnesses, is often detected in pediatric acute hepatitis patients; however, the exact cause remains unclear, according to the WHO.
By continent and region, the Americas (435 cases) and Europe (484 cases) have the highest proportions. Cases are concentrated in a few countries, including 334 in the United States and 272 in the United Kingdom, with several dozen cases also reported in Southeast Asian countries and Japan.
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The WHO recommends preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, avoiding crowded places, consuming safe drinking water and food, wearing masks to cover the mouth and nose properly, and ventilating indoor spaces frequently.
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