Mystery liver disease kills three more children after "unexpected significant increase" in cases reported
CBSJUL 2022
Kids Hepatitis Outbreak: 25 New UK Cases; ~650 Total Infections Worldwide
Image copyright:Â Reuters [via Wall Street Journal]
The Spin
Right narrative
We can thank COVID lockdowns for possibly playing a role in this new public health crisis. The endless cycle of lockdowns may have weakened children's immunity and left them at risk of the adenovirus. Enforced social isolation has consequences.
Left narrative
There are a lot of question marks here and we can't jump to conclusions. The adenovirus hasn't been confirmed as the smoking gun and, while COVID is unlikely the sole culprit, the fact that some kids with hepatitis were also COVID positive is a dangerous development that needs further study.
Metaculus Prediction
There is a 54% chance that pediatric cases of hepatitis with unknown origins will be linked to an adenovirus infection by 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
