After an initial wave of 9 cases of acute hepatitis in juveniles in Alabama, the CDC has reported that the epidemic is expanding and there are now 109 cases in 25 states and territories across the US, all being monitored.
While the children have all tested negative for any strains of the Hepatitis virus, about half tested positive for an adenovirus. The CDC is still investigating whether there is an association with COVID after denying any link during the initial outbreak in Alabama.
14% of the American patients have required liver transplants, and five have already died.
A case in isolated Sabah in Malaysia has increased speculation that the outbreak may be linked to a co-infection between adenovirus-41 and SARS-CoV-2.
This theory is gaining traction with the Scottish public health bureau, and Chinese state media suggesting that these two are associated.