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Researchers suspect omicron is linked to acute childhood hepatitis

Infection with the omicron variant of the coronavirus is suspected to have a connection to recent cases of hepatitis acute infant. This is based on the results of the latest research presented at a Japanese Ministry of Health panel meeting.

According to Japanese Times, On Friday, Professor Hiroshi Nishiura of Kyoto University told the ministry’s coronavirus advisory board that countries with high numbers of omicron infections, such as the UK and the US, have relatively high numbers of cases of acute childhood hepatitis.

Boy in hospital bed

According to the media, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 348 possible cases of acute hepatitis in children worldwide and only six countries reported more than five cases.

According to the professor, a history of infection with the ómicron strain may have an effect on the outbreak of acute childhood hepatitis. This theory linking SARS-COV-2 to the hepatitis outbreak has already been raised by other health agencies and is being investigated.

Acute childhood hepatitis

In a release issued on April 23, the WHO said there was no link between the disease and the vaccines used against covid-19, as the vast majority of infected children had not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

However, the strongest hypothesis to date is that the disease is caused by an adenovirus, which has been detected in at least 74 cases. What scientists are now trying to understand is whether there were mutations in adenovirus 41, which could explain why a virus not known to cause hepatitis in healthy children might now be causing it.

Source: Okchicas

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