Speaking at the press conference at the United Nations (UN) Geneva Office, WHO Global Program on HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Researcher Dr. Philippa Easterbrook shared the latest information on the increasing number of cases of hepatitis of unknown cause in recent weeks.
COMPLEXITY IN THE NUMBER OF CASE OF MYSTERIOUS HEPATITIS
Stating that the virus has been seen in 170 children between the ages of 1 month and 16 years in 16 countries, Dr. Easterbrook noted that 50 percent of cases are between the ages of 3 and 5.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) claimed in its statement on April 26 that the cases of hepatitis had reached 190.
1 LOSS OF LIVES
Easterbrook shared the information that 16 children have undergone liver transplant surgery so far, and the death toll is still 1.
INFECTIONS ARE NOT DUE TO POISONING OR TRAVEL
Reiterating that habitual hepatitis viruses have not been found in any of the cases examined so far, Easterbrook said, “There is no poison, food poisoning or travel-related infection.” said.
Regarding the possibility of connection of hepatitis cases with Covid-19 or Covid-19 vaccinations, Easterbrook said, “It is known that very few children infected with the virus have Covid-19 vaccines. The cases are not related to Covid-19 vaccinations.” used the phrase.
114 OF THE CASE ARE IN THE ENGLAND
Informing that England is the country with the highest incidence of mysterious hepatitis with 114 cases, Easterbrook emphasized that Spain follows England in hepatitis cases.
Easterbrook noted that the countries with hepatitis cases and the detailed number of cases will be shared by WHO within the day.
HOW DID THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF HEPATITIS APPEAR?
WHO, in a written statement on April 16, announced that 74 children in England had detected the hepatitis virus of unknown origin.
According to WHO, at least 170 children have been infected with the virus so far, while this figure is stated as at least 190 according to ECDC.
It was reported that the children in whom the virus was detected had symptoms such as jaundice, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain for the last month, and 16 children were treated by liver transplantation due to severe liver inflammation.
While the definition of the disease as “mysterious” or “unspecified” brings to mind the Covid-19 virus; also brought up the possibility of a new “global epidemic”.
Before being named, Covid-19 was described as a “mysterious lung condition”.