35 countries in five regions of the world have now reported more than 1,010 likely cases of unexplained severe acute hepatitis or liver inflammation in youngsters, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the latest update released by WHO on Wednesday, the number of reported cases has been growing since April 5 when the outbreak was first detected.
The UN health agency is monitoring the surprising spread of hepatitis in previously healthy children, which has left scores needing life-saving liver transplants, in addition to fighting COVID-19 and the outbreak of monkeypox.
At least 22 children have lost their lives and nearly half of the probable cases have been reported in Europe so far, where 21 countries have registered a total of 484 cases.
These include 272 cases in the United Kingdom – 27 percent of the global total – followed by the Americas with a regional total of 435, 334 cases in the US, which accounts for a third of worldwide cases.
The Americas is followed by the Western Pacific Region (70 cases), Southeast Asia (19), and the Eastern Mediterranean (two cases).
According to the agency’s latest assessment, the risk of this paediatric hepatitis outbreak spreading is “moderate.”
To enable a better understanding of the spread of the outbreak, WHO has launched a global online survey, which will also help to compare recent cases with data from the last five years.
WHO also said 17 countries had reported over five probable cases but the actual number of cases may be underestimated in part due to the insufficient enhanced surveillance systems in place.
