The mysterious liver disease outbreak in children now has 190 cases identified to date, with 140 of them in Europe alone. However, health officials in the continent are yet to find a link between cases of the hepatitis of unknown origin that is affecting children.
“So far there is no connection between the cases and no association to travel,” said Andrea Ammon, director at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm.
READ | DNA Explainer: What we know so far about mystery liver disease affecting children
She said the disease appears in previously healthy children, with cases reported across the European continent, in Israel and in the United States. Ammon said some cases have led to acute liver failure that has required a transplant.
On Saturday, the World Health Organization said that at least one death has been reported in connection the outbreak. The U.N. Health agency said the cases were reported in children aged between 1 month and 16 years. WHO didn't say in which country the death occurred.
Experts say the cases may be linked to a virus commonly associated with colds, but research is continuing.
