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THE HSE’S HEALTH Protection Surveillance Centre is investigating a small number of “serious” hepatitis cases among children that have been identified in Ireland in recent weeks.
It comes after British health officials identified 74 cases of hepatitis among children under the age of 10 across the UK.
All of the children were admitted to hospital where medics picked up the cases.
In a statement to The Journal, a spokesperson for the HSE said: “In light of information emerging from the UK, the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre is working with clinical leads in paediatrics to review a very small number of serious hepatitis cases identified in Ireland in recent weeks.”
The spokesperson said that there is currently no clear evidence of causes of these cases, nor is there evidence of any connection between them.
“The HSE and the Department of Health will continue to keep results of investigations and studies under close review and we have issued precautionary information to consultants in this specialty,” they added.
The UK Health Security Agency said it is examining 49 cases in England, 13 in Scotland and 12 across both Wales and Northern Ireland, all of which have occurred since January.
The UKHSA said that it is investigating a “number” of possible causes behind the spike in cases.
An update on hepatitis cases in children:
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) April 12, 2022
We are continuing to investigate 74 cases of hepatitis (liver inflammation) in children in the UK since January 2022. 1/2
One potential line of inquiry is whether or not a group of viruses called adenoviruses may be causing the illnesses.
Other possible explanations are also being investigated, including whether or not Covid-19 could have played a role in the spate of cases.
But officials stressed that there is “no link” to Covid-19 jabs as none of the children affected have received a Covid-19 vaccine.
Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at the UKHSA, urged parents to be alert to the signs of hepatitis amid the rise in cases.
She said in a statement: “We are working swiftly with the NHS and public health colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to investigate a wide range of possible factors which may be causing children to be admitted to hospital with liver inflammation known as hepatitis.
One of the possible causes that we are investigating is that this is linked to adenovirus infection. However, we are thoroughly investigating other potential causes.
“Normal hygiene measures such as good handwashing, including supervising children, and respiratory hygiene, help to reduce the spread of many of the infections that we are investigating.
“We are also calling on parents and guardians, to be alert to the signs of hepatitis, including jaundice, and to contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned.”
Hepatitis symptoms include:
The UKHSA said that adenoviruses are a family of common viruses that usually cause a range of mild illnesses – including colds, vomiting and diarrhoea – and most people recover without complications.
While they do not typically cause hepatitis, it is a known rare complication of the virus.
Adenoviruses are commonly passed from person to person and by touching contaminated surfaces, as well as through the “respiratory route”, the UKHSA said.
It added that the most effective way to minimise the spread of is to practice good hand and respiratory hygiene and supervise thorough handwashing in younger children.
With reporting from the Press Association.
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I think the decision to ask people to stay off the roads was a major contributor to the low death toll .
Well done to all the emergency services and to companies who instructed staff to stay home .
Condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones .
@Paddy Hayden: no doubt as also did closing schools/crèches etc. I was put at 8 yesterday morning and it was like Christmas Day. Popped to shop about 11 and it was like an off license on Christmas Eve. The winds were at their worst in the early hours of this morning in north fingal
I agree Paddy. Well done to all. Does anybody feel that those who defied the advice and went swimming or whatever, should be charged with sone type of public order offence ? Like it was crazy to do what some did – idiots !
@Chris Gavican: yes
@Chris Gavican: send them the bill for their rescue, and pursue them through the courts for payment. Might deter other Darwin Award nominees.
@Chris Gavican: They should be made to pay whatever it costs to bring out the emergency services. To unnecessarily put others’ lives at risk, whatever about the stupidity of risking their own lives is criminally reckless.
The pictures of shoppers in Tesco and Lidl are hugely informative. Who knew that is how people shopped in a storm?
@roderick:
Roofs blown off and structural damage in Cork, meanwhile shoppers in Dublin stocked up on their lattes….
@Avina Laaf: I mean it was just one day!
It was only one day of the storm but for people living in the country which is where most of the damage was done, it’s up to 10 days without power which also means no water and roads still blocked, so maybe for a change people on here should think of those outside of Dublin.
In fairness the queues are always like that in lidl in Thomas St
The biggest storm I remember was on the night of 31 January 1974. There were 3, 100-year old trees down across the Monkstown road (Co. Dublin). The road was closed for 3 days. On the Vico road above Whiterock beach most of the wires were down from the poles on the road. I lost count of the number of fallen trees I saw all around Co. Dublin. A new housing estate in Portmarnock had most of the roof tiles stripped from many houses. I was driving at 1.30 AM along the Stillorgan road near Foxrock and the trees were meeting each other from both sides of the road forming a tunnel. That road was a much narrower dual carriageway in those days. I’m amazed that this storm is never mentioned when big storms are talked about on radio or television. I have never experienced winds or storms as bad as that one.
So, there was a storm in dublin and cork yesterday, the rest of the country was very lucky !!!
@eamonn farrell: well said eamonn, pics only show dublin and cork, as we know the rest of rural ireland does not matter in some eyes
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