7 cases of severe acute hepatitis reported at Toronto children's hospital
CBC
One of Canada's largest children's hospitals is reporting seven cases of severe acute hepatitis identified in recent months, which may be part of an unexplained outbreak impacting youth in multiple countries, CBC News has learned.
It's still unclear how many cases have been reported across Canada, or whether any of the cases under investigation at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto — also known as SickKids — are linked to the mysterious instances of serious liver disease among children in the U.K., U.S., Israel and elsewhere.
A spokesperson for SickKids provided the tally in an email, saying the hospital is "closely monitoring" for any cases of severe acute hepatitis and has reported seven cases meeting the "probable case definition" to Public Health Ontario.
Those cases were identified between Oct. 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022.
"It remains to be seen whether this number represents an increase in cases of unknown origin compared to similar time periods in previous years or if any of these cases will be confirmed to be caused by a novel clinical entity," SickKids spokesperson Jessamine Luck continued.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has not yet provided specifics on how many cases are being investigated Canada-wide to determine if they're related to the unexplained instances of hepatitis elsewhere.
Other countries, however, have been publicizing growing numbers of potentially connected cases, with hundreds of investigations underway globally to determine the root cause of unexplained liver issues among youth.
On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 109 cases across various parts of the country are under investigation to determine any possible links. Fourteen per cent of those children required liver transplants, and five died from their illness.
Hepatitis — which refers to inflammation of the liver — is rare among children. It's typically caused by the family of hepatitis viruses, but can also be sparked by alcohol use, exposure to toxins, or other pathogens.
The cases identified by health officials around the world in recent months don't appear to have any of those usual causes.
Instead, researchers are probing other theories, including links to infections from an adenovirus or SARS-COV-2, the virus behind COVID-19.
WATCH | Mystery cases of hepatitis among children under investigation:
In the U.K., where there have been at least 163 cases of acute, unexplained hepatitis identified in youth under 16 since the start of the year — including 11 cases which required a liver transplant — officials say the leading hypothesis remains focused on adenovirus.
"However, we continue to investigate the potential role of SARS-CoV-2 and to work on ruling out any toxicological component," the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in a briefing note released on Friday.
An RCMP-led corruption investigation is underway into at least one current Calgary city councillor as well as a business, CBC News has learned.
Much of Newfoundland is digging out of a blustery and messy day as another storm slams into the island.
Timiskaming—Cochrane MPP John Vanthof recalls the meeting in Thunder Bay earlier this month. He was part of the nine-day road trip along Highways 11 and 17 with other NDP MPPs.
A bill before the Nova Scotia Legislature is proposing raising the age limit for support for young people who have been in the foster care or group home system to 26.
The Fredericton Police Force has reallocated funds so new staff can be hired this year to better manage evidence after a police error upended murder cases against five people.
One of two pilots killed in a plane crash at New York's LaGuardia Airport Sunday earned his wings at an Ontario college, CBC News has learned.
Air Canada passengers who were aboard Flight 8646 when the CRJ-900 aircraft struck a fire truck upon landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday evening say the collision was sudden and forceful, and they may owe their lives to the pilots who died in the incident.
Cardiac services are set to expand at a Winnipeg hospital once regarded as one of the best in Canada for heart care.
A 26-second TikTok video has ignited a larger conversation about vulnerable populations, theft and content creation.
Some family doctors and emergency room physicians working in Edmonton hospitals warn that an April 1 end to stipend pay arrangements could put patient care at risk and increase suffering.
An Auditor General of Canada report has found that B.C. saw drastically fewer international students than was forecast ever since wide-ranging federal immigration cuts began in 2024.
Six years after e-learning became a mandatory requirement to get an Ontario high school diploma, students don't appear to be taking online school to diversify their course selection as the province had intended, according to a CBC News analysis of provincial enrolment data.
Sarnia City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday morning to respond to social media comments made by Coun. Bill Dennis, who criticized city spending on a new mural by Indigenous artist Kennady Osborne as “virtue signalling by woke politicians” — then made a series of comments in response to a reply from Aamjiwnaang Chief Janelle Nahmabin that some have characterized as unprofessional and aggressive.