Hepatitus outbreak among Scottish children, including Lanarkshire cases, rises to 13

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Health officials are advising parents to look out for the signs of hepatitis after cases confirmed in Scotland rose to 13 - including cases in Lanarkshire.

All of the children affected were admitted to hospitals, where medics picked up on their illness - but the source of the outbreak has yet to be determined, despite ongoing investigations.

The UK Health Security Agency said it is examining 74 cases across the UK, with 49 in England and 12 each in both Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now. Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The UKHSA said that it is investigating a “number” of possible causes behind the spike in cases.One potential line of inquiry is whether or not a group of viruses called adenoviruses may be causing the illnesses.Other possible explanations are also being investigated, including whether or not COVID-19 could have played a role in the spate of cases.But officials stressed that there is “no link” to COVID-19 jabs as none of the children affected have received a COVID-19 vaccine.Public Health Scotland previously confirmed cases affecting children between the ages of one and five in the Fife, Lanarkshire, Tayside and Greater Glasgow and Clyde health-board areas.Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at the UKHSA, urged parents to be alert to the signs of hepatitis amid