As the mysterious infection spreads across the country, seven new cases of acute hepatitis have been discovered in California, and a child has died in Wisconsin.
The infections were discovered in ‘young’ children who had all been sick since October, according to the California Department of Health.
It brings the overall number of suspected hepatitis cases in the United States to 27, with the disease now found in seven states, largely east of the Mississippi River.
Wisconsin is the only state where a suspected hepatitis-related child death has been reported. It will be the first in the country and the second in the world if confirmed. The sickness was contracted after the child was infected with the adenovirus, according to state officials.
In Alabama, North Carolina, and Delaware, cases of the weird disease have already been reported. Health officials in Illinois and New York are investigating reports of similar incidents.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, said the cause of the unusual sickness is yet unknown.
However, scientists have expressed concern that lockdowns may be to blame, as they may weaken children’s immunity or potentially cause Covid infections.
Lockdowns may have damaged children’s immunity, making them more susceptible to the virus, or it might be a modified variant, according to experts.
Nearly 200 kids have been infected by the disease in up to 14 countries around the world. At least 18 patients have required liver transplantation.
The California Department of Public Health said it was unclear whether the infections were caused by adenovirus, which normally causes colds, or if the cases were linked.
The usual hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses were excluded from laboratory test findings, leaving doctors baffled as to what is causing the surge of cases.
An adenovirus, which causes common colds, is thought to be the cause of the illness, according to health officials.
Dr. Fauci told Bloomberg: “It’s still a mystery. It seems to be associated with adenovirus, but it isn’t a slam dunk.”
Alabama reported the first case of infection two weeks ago.
Between November and February, nine kids were admitted to hospitals around the state.
Three of the children developed acute liver failure, and all of the youngsters tested positive for adenovirus.
Two of the patients required liver transplants, but they all recovered and are now doing OK.
Last month, two cases were discovered in North Carolina, with both children recovering. Adenovirus was found in each of them.
A child under the age of five was hospitalized in Delaware last week due to the same mystery hepatitis. They are still in the midst of treatment.
Officials in Wisconsin have confirmed one child’s death, and they’re looking into whether their liver injury is linked to the same cluster of instances.
The Wisconsin DHS said: “Since being notified of this adenovirus-associated hepatitis cluster, DHS is now investigating at least four similar cases among children in Wisconsin.
“This includes two children who had severe outcomes, one liver transplant, and one fatality.”
Adenovirus infection was established in both the child who died and the one who needed a liver transplant.
On Monday, Illinois officials said they discovered three possible cases of acute hepatitis, one of which necessitated a liver transplant.
Because the infections are occurring in clusters, Dr. Tina Tan, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital, believes they are most likely caused by a virus.
She told Bloomberg: “What’s most unusual about all of this is that adenovirus does not usually cause severe hepatitis in kids with no underlying health conditions.”
Yesterday, health officials in New York state said they were looking into a case that looked like the mysterious illness.
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