Parents told to be vigilant after child dies from rare strain of hepatitis

"The exact cause of hepatitis in these children remains unknown."

Parents are being warned about a hepatitis outbreak that has led to the death of a child. It is believed the youth died from a rare strain of the disease. It has not yet been disclosed where the child is from. However, health experts have advised parents to be aware of the symptoms of hepatitis. There has been a concerning rise in cases across the globe, including in Ireland and the UK. Earlier this month, The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued a warning about the outbreak. It has launched an investigation into the outbreak of cases of acute hepatitis. "At present, the exact cause in these children remains unknown." Over 160 cases have been reported thus far. One child sadly passed away and 17 became so ill they needed liver transplants. The ECDC confirmed cases were identified in the UK on April 5th. There has been an increase in "acute hepatitis cases of unknown aetiology among previously healthy children". The cases have been found in children aged between 1 and 16 years of age. The investigative teams believe the strain may have come from "an infectious agent or a possible toxic exposure". The team stressed that there is currently no link to the Covid-19 vaccine. They also failed to identify any common exposure in the personal habits of those infected. "Laboratory investigations of the cases excluded viral hepatitis types A, B, C, D and E in all cases." Symptoms to be aware of include jaundice, diarrhoea, respiratory issues, fever and gastrointestinal symptoms. If you're worried about your child then call your GP immediately. The HSE has advised all parents to keep their children out of school if they believe they could have hepatitis.