Mystery hepatitis outbreak in children not linked to Covid-19: studies
- Two UK studies find more clues to the potential cause of severe hepatitis cases in young children
- Researchers said the rise in adenovirus infections after Covid-19 lockdowns may have contributed to the outbreak
British researchers reported a breakthrough in mysterious hepatitis cases affecting young children, finding the serious liver condition was linked to co-infection of two common viruses, but not the coronavirus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported at least 1,010 probable cases, including 46 that required transplants and 22 deaths from the illness dating back to last October.
Previous theories had centred on a spike in commonly found adenovirus infections being behind the cases.
But in two new studies carried out independently and simultaneously in Scotland and London, scientists found another virus, AAV2 (adeno-associated virus 2) played a significant role and was present in 96 per cent of all patients examined.
AAV2 is not normally known to cause disease and cannot replicate itself without another “helper” virus being present.
Both teams concluded that co-infection with either AAV2 and an adenovirus, or sometimes the herpes virus HHV6, offered the best explanation for the severe liver disease.