Japan finds one probable case of child with severe acute hepatitis

TOKYO • Japan's Health Ministry found one probable case of the mysterious severe acute hepatitis affecting children in the United States, Britain and 10 other countries, raising concerns that the disease is spreading outside of Europe and the US.

The infection, likely the first case in Asia, was found in a young child. While an adenovirus was detected in more than 40 per cent of cases globally, the patient in Japan tested negative, according to the authorities.

The child, whose age was not disclosed, has not had a liver transplant, it said.

One child has died and 17 children, or about 10 per cent of cases, have undergone liver transplants as a result of a mysterious outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said last week.

The Geneva-based agency warned that it is "very likely that more cases will be detected before the cause can be confirmed and more specific control and prevention measures can be implemented".

The British health authorities are investigating a potential link between the pandemic and the hepatitis outbreak.

Symptoms include liver inflammation, with markedly high liver enzymes and jaundice, a liver-linked ailment, preceded by abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting, said the WHO. Typical causes for viral hepatitis have been excluded.

Japan's Health Ministry alerted local governments and asked them to report suspected cases on April 20. It will regularly release information about the situation in Japan, while working with governments around the world to monitor the outbreak, it said.

The disease has so far affected at least 169 children, aged one month to 16 years, in 12 countries as at last Thursday. They are mostly in Britain and other European countries.

BLOOMBERG