Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local Syrian sources: The village of Al-Thala in the western countryside of Sweida was subjected to mortar shelling, with explosions heard in the area.
Occupied Palestine: Very violent Israeli raids target Tal al-Zaatar in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: 15 martyrs were recovered as a result of the ongoing Israeli raids on the city of Beit Lahia and the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: More than 300 martyrs and 500 wounded in three days of ongoing Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: The occupation aims to ethnically cleanse the Sultan area near the Zikim settlement.
Occupied Palestine: The IOF is besieging a school housing displaced persons in the Al-Sultan area, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: Dozens of martyrs and wounded, mostly children and women, in Israeli raids on the northern Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: The Israeli occupation is committing genocide in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: The Indonesian hospital is filled with martyrs and wounded after the IOF bombed homes in northern Gaza.
Occupied Palestine: IOF aircraft targeted a tent on Al-Madrasa Street in the Al-Mashrou area, west of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip

WHO investigating Covid role in child hepatitis cases

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 May 2022 22:13
3 Min Read

WHO says there has been some important progress with the further investigation regarding the role of Covid-19 and adenovirus and child hepatitis cases.

  • x
  • The WHO was first informed on April 5 of 10 unexplained hepatitis cases in Scotland, detected in children under the age of 10
    The WHO was first informed on April 5 of 10 unexplained hepatitis cases in Scotland, detected in children under the age of 10.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Tuesday that 348 probable cases of hepatitis of unknown origin had been identified, amid studies into the potential role of adenovirus and Covid-19 infections.

The World Health Organization said the leading hypotheses remain those involving adenovirus. Adenoviruses are commonly spread by close personal contact, respiratory droplets, and surfaces. They are generally known to cause respiratory symptoms, conjunctivitis, or even digestive disorders.

Hepatitis cases have been reported in 20 countries, with 70 additional cases from a further 13 countries which are pending classification as tests await completion. Only six countries are reporting more than five cases, with more than 160 being reported in Britain.

Important progress with the further investigations

Philippa Easterbrook, from the WHO's global hepatitis program, told a press conference that "over the last week, there's been some important progress with the further investigations and some refinements of the working hypotheses." 

Easterbrook pointed out that Britain had been coordinating a comprehensive set of studies looking at the genetics of the children affected, their immune response, viruses, and further epidemiological studies.

Related News

NYU withhed student's diploma for criticizing 'Israel' in grad speech

NATO defense spending to rise, target of 5% of GDP over 10 years

WHO was first informed on April 5 of 10 unexplained hepatitis cases in Scotland, detected in children under the age of 10.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday it was investigating 109 such cases, including five reported deaths.

70% of the cases tested positive for adenovirus

"At present, the leading hypotheses remain those which involve adenovirus -- with also still an important consideration about the role of Covid as well, either as a co-infection or a past infection," Easterbrook explained.

Further testing in the past week confirmed that around 70% of the cases tested positive for adenovirus, with sub-type 41 -- normally associated with gastroenteritis -- the prevalent sub-type, she added.

Testing has also shown that around 18% of cases actively tested positive for Covid-19.

Incidental infection or not?

The scientist said that within the week, there should be data from Britain on a case-control study comparing whether the detection rate of adenovirus differs from that in other hospitalized children.

"That will really help hone down whether adeno is just an incidental infection that's been detected, or there is a causal or likely causal link," Easterbrook underlined.

WHO refers to the outbreak of severe liver inflammations as acute hepatitis of unknown origin among young children. Three children in Indonesia have died from the disease. Some cases have caused liver failure and required transplants.

  • United States
  • World Health Organization
  • Britain
  • COVID-19
  • US
  • WHO
  • hepatitis

Most Read

A boy draped in a Palestinian flag carries a mock rocket during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israeli rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)

Yemen announces hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport

  • Politics
  • 9 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
President Donald Trump, left, greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US pressures 'Israel' for Gaza deal; Witkoff's Israeli rebuke leaked

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, listens during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli, Syrian officials met secretly in Baku

Israeli settlers lay on the ground as sirens sound amid the detection of a Yemeni missile, May 15, 2025 (Social media)
Politics

Yemeni missile halts Ben Gurion airport activity: Israeli media

500,000 Syrian refugees return since regime change
Politics

500,000 Syrian refugees return since regime change

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, speaks with his Emirati counterpart Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan during their meeting, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, May 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran’s Araghchi: West chose talks after failing militarily

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS