CDC Reports 71 New Cases of Mysterious Hepatitis Among Children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., on April 23, 2020. Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday provided an update on the mysterious rash of hepatitis cases among children.

So far, it noted that 36 states and territories have reported child liver inflammation cases, as it continued to say the cause is not known. About 180 pediatric cases have been under investigation over the past seven months, which is an increase of 71 cases since the last major CDC update on May 5.

No new deaths were reported in the update. Previously, the agency said five deaths have been reported to date.

“While this may appear to be a large increase in patients under investigation over the last two weeks, it’s important to understand that the vast majority of these are what we consider ‘retrospective’ patients,” the agency said in a statement. “Since CDC’s investigation looks at patients reported back to October of 2021, most of these numbers involve patients that are just now being reported, rather than new cases of hepatitis.”

Previously, officials with the federal health agency ruled out hepatitis A, B, and C—or viruses that can cause liver inflammation and injury. Adenoviruses have been found in about half of the children under observation, it continued.

“Further laboratory tests are being conducted to look more closely at the virus genome and other potential pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2,” also known as the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC and health officials in other countries have said that COVID-19 vaccines are not the cause of hepatitis, noting that many of the children patients haven’t received the vaccines.

The CDC again cautioned that hepatitis among children is a rare occurrence but is encouraging parents to be aware of the symptoms, namely jaundice—or the yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a viral infection, alcohol, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications acetaminophen, high doses of certain herbal supplements, toxins, and various medical conditions. Hepatitis viruses, which spread via bodily fluids, can also cause liver inflammation.

Symptoms include abdominal pain—namely in the upper right part of the abdomen right below the ribs—dark-colored urine, and light-colored stools.

About a month ago, the agency issued a nationwide warning after nine child hepatitis cases were found in Georgia. In the latest update, the CDC did not give a list of the new states that have reported cases.

Previously it said that Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin have confirmed cases. Puerto Rico also confirmed at least one case of the illness.