Outbreak of episodes of acute childhood hepatitis in the EU

Subject: Outbreak of episodes of acute childhood hepatitis in the EU

The number of cases of the acute childhood hepatitis of unknown origin first reported in the United Kingdom is continuing to rise. The World Health Organization reports that at least 169 cases have already been confirmed in 11 European countries, with at least 17 children needing to have a liver transplant. One death has been recorded.

Most of these cases have been recorded in Europe, but there have been nine confirmed cases in the United States and 12 in Israel.

Italy, too, has now seen its first cases of hepatitis ‘non-A-E’, the definition being used to describe these specific cases of liver inflammation that are alarming various Member States.

Ongoing investigations into this have not so far shed any light on possible causes.

In view of the above:

1. What is the Commission doing to stem the outbreak of a high number of cases of acute childhood hepatitis across the EU?

2. 2. In particular, what measures is it deploying to investigate the causes of these infections?

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

(20 June 2022)

1. The Commission — with the support of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) — is monitoring the increase in severe acute hepatitis cases of unknown aetiology in children in the United Kingdom and several EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries and has discussed the topic in the Health Security Committee. On 28 April 2022 ECDC published a Risk Assessment (1), providing guidance to EU/EEA countries in terms of surveillance including adequate testing and reporting, possible control measures (2) and risk communication.

2. To know more about the cause(s) of the increase of severe acute hepatitis cases of unknown aetiology in children, ECDC calls on EU/EEA countries to establish surveillance at national level, including appropriate testing, and quickly report cases to the participating authorities of the epidemiological surveillance network (3). Moreover, ECDC offers to support countries in designing specific studies looking into e.g. risk factors for infection and severe disease. Different European clinical research networks, several of which receive Horizon 2020 funding (e.g. ECRAID (4), Penta (5)), swiftly reacted by setting up a rapid survey to assess the extent and geographical distribution of the outbreak (6). The outbreak is also being discussed and closely monitored at the level of the Global research collaboration for infectious disease preparedness (GloPID-R) (7).

⋅1∙ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/increase-severe-acute-hepatitis-cases-unknown-aetiology-children

⋅2∙ Such as reinforcing general good hygienic practices (including careful hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces) in settings attended by young children.

⋅3∙ In accordance with Article 6 of Decision 1082/2013/EU on serious cross-border threats to health and repealing Decision No 2119/98/EC (OJ L 293, 5.11.2013, p. 1)

on epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases and related special health issues (such as antimicrobial resistance). Hepatitis is included in the list of notifiable diseases subject to epidemiological surveillance. Decision 1082/2013/EU is currently under revision. The proposed Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health and repealing Decision No 1082/2013/EU will, once adopted, strengthen preparedness and response, inter alia, through a Union preparedness plan, a system of regular assessments of national preparedness plans and improved, continued surveillance of communicable diseases [and related special health issues?]. ⋅4∙ https://www.ecraid.eu/ ; projects ECRAID-Plan (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/825715), ECRAID-Base (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/965313), ECRAID-

Prime (https://www.ecraid.eu/ecraid-prime); total EU contribution EUR 42.9 million ⋅5∙ https://penta-id.org/ ; beneficiary of a total EU contribution of EUR 8.0 million in 8 Horizon 2020 projects and 2 Horizon Europe projects ⋅6∙ https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.19.2200370 ⋅7∙ https://www.glopid-r.org/