The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says the precise cause behind the recent wave of severe hepatitis cases in young children in a number of countries remains unknown.
ECDC Director Andrea Ammon disclosed this at a press conference on Tuesday in Stockholm, to mark European Immunisation Week 2022.
“Investigations are ongoing in all the countries reporting cases but at present, the exact cause of this hepatitis still remains unknown.’’
She said the investigations right now pointed towards a link to adenovirus infection.
“So far, there is no connection between the cases and also no association to travel,” Ammon added.
According to her, 190 cases had been reported to date worldwide, with around 40 in the European Economic Area (EEA).
Most of the cases affecting children under the age of 10 have been reported from Britain and 10 EEA countries, as well as the U.S. and Israel. (dpa/NAN)
