Jakarta (ANTARA) - The number of suspected cases of mysterious acute hepatitis that affects children under the age of 16 reached 24 in Indonesia as of Thursday, the Health Ministry reported.

"(Based on) the daily data released as of June 2, 2022, at 4 p.m., the total number of cases is 24 patients," Health Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril said in a written statement released here on Friday.

According to him, of the 24 cases, 7 are probable, 17 are pending classification, and zero are “epi-linked" (epidemiologically-linked).

An “epi-linked” case is one where a patient has presented with non-hepatitis viruses A–E, which infect people of all ages, or has come in close contact with probable cases since October 1, 2021, he informed.

Syahril further said that seven deaths have been reported so far, with three patients classified as probable and four pending classification.

"The 13 patients who are still being treated consist of three probable and ten pending classifications," he informed.

Meanwhile, four patients—one probable and three pending classifications—have so far recovered from the infection, he informed.

"All of them have been discharged," Syahril said.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a guidance regarding the definition of acute hepatitis in children, with cases where hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E or other etiologies are detected tagged as "discarded," he informed.

According to Syahril's statement, the definition that is closest to the current emergence of mysterious acute hepatitis is “probable,” wherein a laboratory result shows non-hepatitis A–E viruses, SGOT/SGPT above 500 IU/L, the patient is under 16 years old, and the case has occurred since October 1, 2021.

Moreover, he said that health experts are still deliberating on a definition for confirmed cases; however, research from several countries has hypothesized that mysterious hepatitis is caused by Adenovirus, which usually causes cough and cold.

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Translator: Andi F, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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