Officials confirm 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis in children in Canada
Ten children in Canada were found to be suffering from severe acute hepatitis not caused by known hepatitis viruses over a nearly six-month period recently, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced Friday.
Three cases were in Alberta, two in Manitoba, four in Ontario and one in Quebec. The children were between the ages of one and 13 years old. All children were hospitalized after becoming sick between Nov. 3, 2021, and April 23, 2022. Two children required a liver transplant.
The cases of severe acute hepatitis were not caused by known hepatitis viruses, such as hepatitis A, B, C and E, according to the agency.
The agency also said they are analyzing data to see if these reports represent an increase in frequency of cases of severe acute hepatitis in children not caused by known hepatitis viruses.
PHAC says it’s working with provinces and territories to identify cases dating back to October of 2021 to match the World Health Organization’s own investigation into severe acute hepatitis in children.PHAC added its investigation has been broad, including any children with inflammation of the liver where a cause is not certain.
Parents are asked to contact their child’s health-care provider if they notice any symptoms in their children, including yellowing of the skin and eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, light-coloured stools, loss of appetite, fever and fatigue.
COVID-19 COVERAGE
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau defends military spending ahead of NATO summit as new report projects decline
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending Canadian military spending after a new NATO report this week showed Canada heading in the wrong direction.

Ottawa convoy organizer Tamara Lich arrested in Alberta for alleged breach of bail conditions
Tamara Lich, one of the organizers of the Freedom Convoy, has been arrested in Alberta for alleged breach of bail conditions, CTV News has learned.
Canadians on TikTok open their doors to Americans seeking abortions
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade opening the door to abortion bans in the U.S., Canadian Tiktokers are welcoming Americans who are considering travelling north of the border to get an abortion.
Child dies after being left in hot car while mother taught at Ontario high school, mayor says
An Ontario community is reeling after a 23-month-old boy died when he was accidentally left in a hot car outside the school where his mother taught, the mayor says.
Prime Minister Trudeau pledges more aid and loans to Ukraine at G7 summit
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced more money for Ukraine -- including a $200-million loan through the International Monetary Fund -- at the end of the Group of Seven leaders' summit in Germany.
Former Nazi guard, 101, jailed for aiding murder
A 101-year-old man was convicted in Germany of 3,518 counts of accessory to murder on Tuesday for serving at the Nazis' Sachsenhausen concentration camp during the Second World War.
Ford defends decision to name nephew minister of multiculturalism
Ontario Premier Doug Ford defended his decision Monday to name his nephew minister of citizenship and multiculturalism, saying the newly elected legislator has spent years representing one of the most diverse communities in the province.
Three dead, police watchdog called in after Ottawa stabbing
Ontario's police watchdog is investigating after Ottawa police officers shot and killed a man and injured a woman while responding to the stabbing deaths of two women.
Have you struggled to access abortion services in Canada? Share your story
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a number of states south of the border have stopped performing abortions. If you're a Canadian who has had an abortion, CTVNews.ca wants to hear from you.