The World Health Organization said Friday it become tracking instances of hepatitis of unknown origin in dozens of children in Britain, a number of whom required a liver transplant

Britain first of all mentioned 10 cases of extreme acute hepatitis in Scotland to WHO on April 5, earlier than reporting a complete of seventy four cases throughout the u . S . 3 days later, the UN corporation stated.

WHO expects more instances to be pronounced within the coming days.

Some of the cases were so severe that patients had to be transferred to specialist children’s liver units, while six children had liver transplants, WHO said in a statement.

“Less than five confirmed or possible” cases were reported in Ireland, and three confirmed cases in Spain. No deaths have been recorded.

The infection mainly affected children aged under 10 and symptoms included jaundice, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The known hepatitis viruses, from A to E, have not been detected in the children, so British health authorities have examined a link to common viruses, or other possible causes like Covid-19, infections or environmental factors.

The WHO said Covid-19 and/or common viruses had been detected “in several cases”, but their role in the infection’s development was “not yet clear”.

Experts ruled out any link with Covid vaccines, none of which had been administered to any of the confirmed cases in Britain.

Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at the United Kingdom Health Security Agency, a public fitness protection body, stated “ordinary hygiene measures” along with handwashing “help to lessen the spread of the various infections that we’re investigating”.

She additionally known as on dad and mom and guardians to be alert to the signs of hepatitis and “to contact a healthcare professional if they’re concerned.”