The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday it is investigating nine cases of hepatitis in children. The health alert comes on the heels of an advisory released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describing a cluster of pediatric hepatitis cases in children potentially associated with an adenovirus infection. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It can be fatal. Nebraska Case Breakdown: 2 in Douglas County2 in Sarpy/Cass Health jurisdiction 2 in East Central jurisdiction1 in Public Health Solutions jurisdiction1 in Two Rivers jurisdiction1 in Southwest jurisdiction DHHS said among the nine cases, three tested positive for adenovirus. According to the Douglas County Health Department, adenovirus is a common virus spread through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include diarrhea, pink eye, and common cold symptoms. CNN reported Friday the CDC is investigating more than 100 cases of pediatric hepatitis nationwide including five deaths. “So far, we are not sure if these hepatitis cases came from an adenovirus infection or another source that is still to be identified,” health director Dr. Lindsay Huse said of Douglas County’s two identified pediatric hepatitis cases. “We are asking providers to let the Health Department know if they are treating a patient less than ten years old with a case of hepatitis from an unknown cause. We know that this may be concerning to parents, but this is still a rare illness.”A link to symptoms of the adenovirus can be found here.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday it is investigating nine cases of hepatitis in children.
The health alert comes on the heels of an advisory released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describing a cluster of pediatric hepatitis cases in children potentially associated with an adenovirus infection.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It can be fatal.
Nebraska Case Breakdown:
- 2 in Douglas County
- 2 in Sarpy/Cass Health jurisdiction
- 2 in East Central jurisdiction
- 1 in Public Health Solutions jurisdiction
- 1 in Two Rivers jurisdiction
- 1 in Southwest jurisdiction
DHHS said among the nine cases, three tested positive for adenovirus. According to the Douglas County Health Department, adenovirus is a common virus spread through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include diarrhea, pink eye, and common cold symptoms.
CNN reported Friday the CDC is investigating more than 100 cases of pediatric hepatitis nationwide including five deaths.
“So far, we are not sure if these hepatitis cases came from an adenovirus infection or another source that is still to be identified,” health director Dr. Lindsay Huse said of Douglas County’s two identified pediatric hepatitis cases. “We are asking providers to let the Health Department know if they are treating a patient less than ten years old with a case of hepatitis from an unknown cause. We know that this may be concerning to parents, but this is still a rare illness.”
A link to symptoms of the adenovirus can be found here.