New research indicates that the lack of exposure to two common viruses during the Covid-19 pandemic may increase the risk of severe illness in children due to mysterious hepatitis.
According to CNBC News, scientists in the UK have recently published research results confirming they have identified a potential cause for the recent outbreak of mysterious hepatitis affecting many children. Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that over 1,000 children worldwide have been reported with unusually acute hepatitis, with approximately 22 of those cases resulting in death.
Co-infection of Viruses
This finding comes from a research team at University College London and the University of Glasgow. They suggest that social distancing measures may have left some infants without early immunity to both adenovirus and adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2).
Importantly, both groups of experts found no direct evidence linking the spike in mysterious hepatitis cases to SARS-CoV-2 infection, demonstrating that mysterious hepatitis is not a complication or sequela of post-Covid-19.
From January to July 12, over 1,000 children in 35 countries unexpectedly developed an unidentified type of acute hepatitis. The UK was the first to raise alarms about this phenomenon. Subsequently, the US identified 9 children experiencing similar issues since October 2021. Within a few months, this illness was discovered in multiple countries across Europe and Asia, with 22 fatalities reported.
In the UK, no deaths have been recorded, but 12 children required liver transplants. Indonesia and the US have reported the highest human toll. Most infections occurred in children aged 5 and under.
During the peak of the mysterious hepatitis outbreak, adenovirus was the primary suspect. This virus typically causes mild cold-like symptoms or flu-like illness and was found in a majority of the samples taken from affected children.
However, the new study from the UK research team identified a new virus present in 96% of the mysterious hepatitis cases. This virus is related to Adenovirus 2, which usually does not cause disease and cannot replicate without the help of a “helper” virus like adenovirus or herpes. This virus is referred to as AAV2.
Unraveling the Mystery
Researchers state that the co-infection with two types of viruses – AAV2 and adenovirus – or less commonly, herpes HHV6 – could be the best explanation for this outbreak.
Additionally, the study found a potential genetic risk factor, with 17 out of 20 cases examined possessing a specific gene (DRB1 04:01) significantly higher than the population average of 16%. This gene may identify those most susceptible, but further research is needed.
“We still have some unanswered questions, such as what led to the spike in mysterious hepatitis cases. However, we hope these results can reassure concerned parents regarding Covid-19, as neither group of volunteers found any direct link with SARS-CoV-2 infection,” said Professor Judith Breuer from the Institute of Child Health at University College London.
Adenovirus is the primary suspect in the early wave of mysterious hepatitis. (Image: CDC).
These findings add to the hypothesis of some healthcare experts that social distancing measures have weakened community immunity against certain common diseases. The authors also emphasized that there is no connection between mysterious hepatitis and Covid-19 vaccines.
Two independent studies were conducted simultaneously using samples from the UK. Professor Dr. Sofia Morfopoulou from the Institute of Child Health at University College London stated that more research is needed to compare cases of mysterious hepatitis in other countries.
“International collaboration is essential to investigate and clarify the role of AAV2 and co-infecting viruses in the unexplained hepatitis in children,” she emphasized.
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According to WHO definitions, cases of mysterious hepatitis are identified as children aged 16 years and under, suffering from acute hepatitis not due to viral hepatitis with serum levels >500 IU/L (AST or ALT). The period of illness has been from October 1, 2021, to the present. If cases are pending serological testing for hepatitis A-E but meet other criteria, they will be classified as “pending verification.” In a newly published report, the WHO has for the first time assessed the global risk of the mysterious hepatitis outbreak as moderate. To prevent adenovirus and other common infections, the WHO recommends the following precautions: Regular hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoiding crowded places and maintaining distance from others; ensuring good ventilation indoors; wearing a well-fitting mask covering the mouth and nose when recommended; covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing; consuming thoroughly cooked food and boiled drinks; regularly disinfecting frequently touched surfaces; self-isolating when experiencing unusual symptoms and contacting a doctor immediately. |
