A recent spate of severe liver inflammation (hepatitis) has been reported in previously healthy children.

As of 21 April, there have been 169 confirmed cases of “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” in children in 12 countries, with the vast majority of cases (114) occurring in the UK. Many of the children are under 10 years old.

What has been very concerning for health professionals reporting on these cases is the severity of the disease in these young, otherwise healthy children. Seventeen have needed a liver transplant, and one child has died of liver failure.

The number of transplants is far higher than what has been typically seen over similar time periods in previous years.