Hepatitis Outbreak in Healthy Kids Possibly Linked to Adenovirus Infection

An outbreak of severe hepatitis in healthy children that has caused liver failure in some kids might be linked to adenovirus infection, though further investigation is needed, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said last week. Eleven countries, including the U.S., have reported at least 169 cases of severe acute hepatitis in children aged 1 month to 16 years old with the largest outbreak in the U.K. At least 74 of the children have tested positive for adenovirus, according to the WHO. Adenoviruses are common and usually cause respiratory illness but can also result in stomach pain, pink eye and bladder infections.