Subject: Increase in cases of hepatitis
A sharp increase in the number of children contracting hepatitis has recently been observed in many countries, the World Health Organisation having reported over 230 cases worldwide. By the end of April, around 40 cases had been detected in 12 Member States and over 100 in the United Kingdom, the age of those affected ranging from one month to adolescence.
The causes of this wave of hepatitis are still unknown and there appears to be no link between the cases. Symptoms include jaundice, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and yellowing in the eyes. US experts appear inclined to attribute the spread of the disease to an adenovirus, but cannot be certain.
In view of this:
1. Does the Commission have specific data on the situation in the Member States and the causes of the disease?
2. How does it intend to address this sudden spread of acute hepatitis in children and what measures has it taken, or does it intend to take, to bring the situation under control?
Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
(25 July 2022)
The Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are closely monitoring the epidemiological situation around the unexpected cases of hepatitis in children. ECDC has installed a dedicated website (1).
As of 16 June 2022, 449 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology have been reported by 20 countries. The majority (76.6%) of cases are five years old or younger. Eighty-seven required admission to an intensive care unit.
19 have received a liver transplant. Most cases continue to be reported as sporadic, unrelated cases. The next epidemiological report will be issued by ECDC on 29 July 2022.
ECDC provided a Risk Assessment on 28 April 2022 (2) and since is regularly updating on the epidemiological situation via its joint ECDC/World Health Organisation Surveillance Bulletin (3).
The cause of the disease is yet unknown. The current leading hypothesis is that a co-factor adenovirus infection, which would be mild in normal circumstances, triggers a more severe infection or immune-mediated liver damage.
Other aetiologies, e.g. other infectious or toxic agents, are still under investigation and have not been excluded, but are considered less plausible. The disease is rare and evidence around human-to-human transmission remains unclear; cases in the EU/European Economic Area are almost entirely sporadic.
The Commission, via the Health Security Committee (4), is closely coordinating the response of EU Member States.
⋅1∙ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/increase-severe-acute-hepatitis-cases-unknown-aetiology-children
⋅2∙ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/increase-severe-acute-hepatitis-cases-unknown-aetiology-children
⋅3∙ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/hepatitis/joint-weekly-hepatitis-unknown-origin-children-surveillance-bulletin
⋅4∙ https://ec.europa.eu/health/health-security-and-infectious-diseases/preparedness-and-response/health-security-committee-hsc_en