A mysterious liver disease first detected in children in Britain is now popping up in Europe and the U.S., leaving health officials perplexed.
The mystery disease? Hepatitis.
Last week the total number of cases reported since January by British officials reached 74. But what's leaving health experts scratching their chins is the absence of the usual viruses that cause a hepatitis infection, ABC News reported.
Doctors and scientists are now trying to figure out what's behind these infections, considering other possible sources of the disease.
It is also a mystery due to children seeing infections in Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Spain, the European CDC reported on Tuesday.
In Alabama, there have been nine cases in children aged 1 to 6, according to U.S. health officials who are also trying to find the cause.
Hepatitis, the inflammation of the liver, can lead to nutrient deficiency, being that the organ is responsible for processing nutrients, fighting infection, and filtering blood. If it isn't treated, then it could be life-threatening.
For those worried, symptoms to be aware of include jaundice, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
It is not clear what's causing the cases, but health officials are looking into the coronavirus to see if it has played a role. However, only some kids had tested positive for COVID-19.
ABC News shared that COVID-19 vaccines have been ruled out as none of the kids fighting hepatitis were vaccinated.
The main culprit is currently an adenovirus, which the World Health Organization said has increased in Britain as of late, and the nine children in Alabama tested positive for it. But there still is no connection to the role those viruses play in triggering hepatitis.
Due to the increase in hepatitis cases seen over the last month, the U.N. health agency expects there to be more cases detected, saying it's "very likely" now that more are looking for the disease.