Mysterious child hepatitis found

Jiji Press

17:10 JST, April 26, 2022

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The health ministry said Monday that a child aged under 17 has been hospitalized as a possible case of acute child hepatitis of unknown origin, which has been reported abroad recently.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 169 cases of the child hepatitis had been reported in 12 countries as of Thursday. The mystery liver inflammation has claimed the life of one person so far.

Although adenovirus has been found in 74 cases, the cause of the child hepatitis is unknown.

In response to the string of overseas cases, the health ministry on April 20 alerted local governments and asked for related data. Following the moves, the ministry received a report of a possible case of the mystery hepatitis defined by the WHO.