In an interview with Le Parisien, Bruno Lina, virologist at the Hospices Civils de Lyon, talks about this global epidemic of acute hepatitis which affects children. Three months after the first cases, its origins remain unclear and may never be known.
“It is possible that we will never find the cause” In an interview with the daily The Parisian, Bruno Lina, virologist at the Hospices Civiles de Lyon, discusses the epidemic of severe acute hepatitis that has affected children since last April. A total of 920 probable cases were reported to Public Health France, according to their last report dated June 28. 33 countries are affected.
“These hepatitis show an increase in transaminases (enzymes present inside cells in particular the liver, editor’s note), explains the virologist. They also have yellow eyes, inflammation of the liver, even destruction, which may require a transplantation.” Majority of cases affect children under five.
Countries affected differently
“But the number is different depending on the country and that’s what questions us,” recognizes the scientist. In France, probably eight cases have been identified, “which is stable compared to last year”, and four are still under investigation. While at the same time, Britain records almost half of the 450 European cases. Across the Atlantic, the United States has identified more than 300 cases.
Distribution of probable cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in children by country, as of June 22, 2022
An origin linked to covid?
“At first we thought that the Covid could be the cause, except that only 10% of the 313 sick children identified and tested had been contaminated”, affirms Bruno Lina. Another explanation: an adenovirus of types 40 and 41. “It is a family of viruses which causes in the vast majority of cases angina, and in a small number of diarrhoea. They were found in 52.4% of suffering children, in proportion, it is more than in the general population”, he explains.
Before qualifying. First, screenings are not done for the slightest symptom, so scientists do not know the level of circulation. Then, the cases of hepatitis with these types of adenovirus are very exceptional in children: they mainly affect very immunocompromised children. Finally, the traces of this virus are perceptible for a very long time in the stool. In conclusion, “it is possible that there are several associated toxicological, environmental and infectious factors which, by their combination, cause this acute hepatitis”.
“It is possible that we will never find”
The origin and source of this epidemic therefore remain a mystery, according to the virologist. “It may never be found! The signal is fading, the cases are decreasing, so our chances of identifying the cause are diminishing over time.” According to the last WHO report dated June 22, eighteen deaths were reported. 45 children required a transplant.