270 Kids Hit by Rare Hepatitis Outbreak – But Cases Are Dropping
There have been 270 confirmed cases of hepatitis in children aged 10 and under in the UK as of July 19. Fifteen of these kids needed liver transplants. Thankfully, none have died. Even better news – the number of new cases is now falling.
Adenovirus Locked In as Main Suspect
The latest technical briefing covers 274 confirmed and possible cases up to July 4. Adenovirus remains the leading virus found in these youngsters. Out of 258 tested, 171 (nearly 66%) had adenovirus detected.
A huge UK case-control study revealed a strong link between adenovirus infection and this sudden spike in hepatitis. Routine surveillance backs this up, showing clear increases in adenovirus among young children – but not older kids or adults.
New Research Shines a Light on the Outbreak
Collaborations between Public Health Scotland, the MRC-University Centre for Virus Research, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and others have dived deep into virus samples. They used cutting-edge metagenomics to spot other viruses involved.
Both studies found adenovirus-associated virus 2 (AAV2) in most hepatitis cases, but rarely in healthy controls. AAV2 itself doesn’t cause illness and needs a “helper” virus to multiply. Early signs suggest some kids’ immune quirks might play a part — though the exact mix of triggers remains a mystery.
COVID-19 Unlikely to Be the Culprit
Officials also looked into links with COVID-19. Just 4.4% of the hepatitis cases tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 shortly before hospital admission – almost the same as other kids admitted to A&E.
The research showed no significant difference in past COVID infection rates or antibodies between hepatitis patients and other children. Experts agree: prior COVID-19 infection is unlikely to explain the sudden hepatitis surge.
Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections, said: “Untangling the cause of the increase in childhood hepatitis cases observed in 2022 is complex. Multiple strands of the investigation point to the possibility that several different factors have combined to cause severe illness in some children.”
Remember, childhood hepatitis remains very rare. UKHSA is working hard with partners worldwide to crack the mystery and prepare for any future risks.
