Medical Association Says No Link Between Hepatitis Outbreak, COVID Vaccine

TheIndonesia.id - The Indonesian Medical Association, or IDI, has called the claim that says the recent mysterious hepatitis outbreak among children is associated with COVID-19 vaccines as baseless.

IDI’s head of COVID-19 task force Zubairi Djoerban said the majority of children who are infected with hepatitis aren’t vaccinated; therefore, no link has been found between the outbreak and COVID-19 vaccine.

“They hypothesis is not supported by data because the majority of children who contracted the mysterious hepatitis haven’t been administered with COVID-19 vaccines,” Djoerban said on Tuesday, May 3, as reported by Antara.

According to IDI, there are 170 suspected cases of hepatitis globally, including in Indonesia where three children from Jakarta have died.

Djoerban explained in most cases, children who are infected initially suffered from gastrointestinal problems which would be followed by jaundice, and their lab results also showed signs of severe liver inflammation.

He also explained that medical experts across the globe are still working to figure out the cause, and some findings have been reported.

“Some found Adenovirus 41, some found SARS-CoV2, and the other found the combination of the two viruses,” Djoerban revealed, adding that other causes might still be reported.

According to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Adenoviruses are among the common viruses that can cause cold-like symptoms, fever, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, and pink eye (conjunctivitis).

“There has been no link between Adenovirus 41 with hepatitis, and [the body] can usually heal itself from this common pathogen,” Djoerban said.

The medical expert added the recent hepatitis outbreak is considered to be very serious since a number of children have died. And in the United Kingdom, ten out of 145 acute hepatitis patients even need liver transplantation.

Previously, on Sunday, Indonesian Ministry of Health reported that three pediatric patients who were treated at the Dr. Ciptomangunkusumo Jakarta for suspected acute hepatitis died.

It also confirmed that it was investigating the causes of acute hepatitis through a complete virus panel examination and asked the public to remain calm.

"During the investigation period, we urge the public to be careful and remain calm. Take precautions, such as washing hands, ensuring food is cooked and clean, not changing eating utensils, avoiding contact with sick people, and continuing to implement health protocols," the Ministry’s spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said in the statement.