“Nearly 200 cases and abound 40 have been reported in the European Union (EU) and the Economic Area,” ECDC Director Andrea Ammon told reporters at a press conference.

Acute hepatitis has an unexplained origin, yet its most likely cause is adenovirus, Ms. Ammon said.

“Ongoing investigations pointed to a link with adenovirus infection,” as it has been suspected since its first report by the United Kingdom (UK) a few weeks ago. In this period, it has been ruled out hepatitis was closely related to the Covid-19 vaccine or possible travel.

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed deep concern about the increased cases of unexplained acute hepatitis in 11 countries.

17 children were reported and one of them passed away in UK, and 10% required liver transplant.

Clinical syndrome among identified cases is acute hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) with markedly elevated liver enzymes.

Many people “have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, which preceded the severe acute hepatitis symptoms, and elevated levels of liver enzymes (aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) greater than 500 IU/L) and jaundice”.

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