Unexplained cases of acute hepatitis in children continue to attract attention. The case of
seems to be spreading outside Europe and the United States. On April 26, according to overseas news, Japan reported its first suspected case of unexplained acute hepatitis in children. This was also the first case of infection reported in Asia. According to the latest data from WHO, 169 cases of childhood hepatitis have been detected in at least 12 countries, 17 of which required liver transplantation and one death.
The latest research on this case is also being gradually disclosed. First of all, the British Health and Safety Authority responded that cases of childhood hepatitis of unknown cause are not related to the new coronavirus vaccine; in addition, according to a report from the British Health and Safety Authority, hepatitis cases may be related to a type of adenovirus. The World Health Organization has warned that more cases of unexplained hepatitis in children are expected.
In addition, the domestic vaccine against the Omicron variant has also attracted market attention. On April 26, two major domestic vaccine giants successively announced that the inactivated vaccine against the novel coronavirus variant of Omicron has received clinical approval from the China State Food and Drug Administration. After the news was disclosed, Sinopharm was closed in a straight line, and the total market value rose to 20.8 billion yuan. Fosun Pharma also followed the daily limit.
The first case of suspected acute hepatitis in Asia
On April 26, according to overseas news, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (Health Ministry) reported the first suspected case of acute hepatitis in children of unknown origin. This was also the first case of infection reported in Asia. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare stated that the case was a child under 16 years old who had not received a liver transplant before and was currently receiving medical treatment. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare did not disclose the patient’s specific age and other information.
According to the latest data released by World Health Organization (WHO), as of April 23, at least 169 cases of unexplained acute hepatitis in children have been detected in 12 countries around the world, including 17 cases requiring liver transplantation. cases and 1 death. The age of patients is mainly between 1 month and 16 years old, and most cases are concentrated in the United Kingdom and other European countries. In addition, nine cases of unexplained acute hepatitis in children have been confirmed in the United States, all of which were reported in Alabama. The children ranged in age from 1 to 6 years old.
With the increase in cases of unexplained acute hepatitis in children, relevant public opinion has begun to ferment. There are even voices questioning whether such cases may be related to vaccination with the new coronavirus vaccine?
In response, the British Health and Safety Authority responded that the specific cause of this case is not yet clear, but it is certain that the cases of unexplained childhood hepatitis in the UK have nothing to do with the new crown vaccine, because none of the children have been vaccinated against the new crown vaccine.
As the WHO and governments began to pay close attention, more research findings about this case were gradually disclosed. On April 25, local time, the British Health and Safety Authority announced the latest findings from its investigation into cases of unexplained childhood hepatitis in the UK.
The British Health and Safety Authority said that there is increasing evidence that recent cases of rare hepatitis in young children may be related to a common adenovirus, and a type 41F adenovirus appears to be the most likely cause of the disease.
A report from the British Health and Safety Authority shows that adenovirus was detected in 40 of 53 children in the UK who underwent adenovirus testing, accounting for 75%.
According to public information, adenovirus is a common virus that can spread from person to person and may cause a series of diseases, including colds, pink eye and gastroenteritis . The most effective way to reduce the spread of adenovirus is to stay well Hand and respiratory hygiene, and supervise young children to wash their hands thoroughly.
It is worth mentioning that the first case of suspected unexplained acute hepatitis in children was discovered in Japan, and the adenovirus test result was negative.
British medical experts believe that this adenovirus may be only one of the causes of acute hepatitis in children, and there may be other factors at work.
Currently, the British Health and Safety Authority is investigating the link between unexplained acute hepatitis in children and the new coronavirus.Data so far show that the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in 10 of 60 children with hepatitis who have been examined.
Overall, the cause of unexplained cases of acute hepatitis in children remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing.
The WHO warned that it is very likely that more cases will be discovered before the cause is confirmed and more specific control and prevention measures are implemented.
The death toll from the new crown in the United States is approaching 1 million
On April 25, local time, The Wall Street Journal analyzed and reported on the deaths from the new crown in the United States based on data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which also triggered a heated debate. discussion.
The Wall Street Journal stated that according to death certificates officially recorded by the CDC, the cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States has exceeded 990,000, and is still rising, and may exceed one million at some point in the future.
CDC data points out that the “root cause” of death in at least 90% of cases is COVID-19, while the virus is identified as a contributing cause of death in the remainder. This data from
CDC also reveals the differences in death data among different races in the United States. Except for particularly elderly people, the death rate of non-white major ethnic groups is basically nearly twice that of white groups.
In addition, the CDC also provided relevant data regarding the age distribution of COVID-19 deaths in the United States. After the outbreak in the United States, nearly 30% of the deaths were patients over 65 years old.
Looking back at the various stages of the epidemic in the United States, in the early days of the epidemic in 2020, more than 80% of the deaths were among people over 65 years old. With the full rollout of the vaccination program, the proportion of deaths among the elderly has dropped rapidly. In the face of the latest round of the Omicron epidemic, the proportion of deaths among people over 65 years old has soared again. After vaccination booster shots, the proportion of deaths among people over 65 years old has dropped again.
means that large-scale vaccination and vaccine booster vaccination can effectively reduce the risk of death from the new coronavirus. The
vaccine effectively reduces the risk of death from COVID-19 and has also been verified in Hong Kong and Shanghai, China. According to the latest data released by the Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong SAR Government, as of April 20, the total number of deaths from COVID-19 in Hong Kong has reached 8,973, of which more than 95% are elderly people aged 60 and above, and more than 70% have not been vaccinated. The analysis results also show that compared with people who have not been vaccinated, receiving three shots can reduce the risk of death from the disease by more than 70 times.
Judging from data released in Shanghai, elderly people aged 60 and above account for nearly 20% of the positive infections in this round of epidemic. The risk of severe illness among elderly people who have not been vaccinated against the new coronavirus is significantly higher than that of those who have been vaccinated. Since February 26, the total number of deaths from COVID-19 in Shanghai has reached 138, of which 129 have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
From this point of view, one of the most effective weapons against the faster-spreading Omicron mutant strain is still the comprehensive promotion of vaccines and vaccine booster shots.
Big news about domestic vaccines
On April 26, good news came one after another from the two major domestic vaccine giants: Sinopharm and Sinovac .
In the afternoon of the same day, Sinopharm China Biotech officially announced that the Omicron variant (hereinafter referred to as the "Ao strain") new coronavirus inactivated vaccine has received the National Food and Drug Administration clinical approval.
Sinopharm stated that it will use a randomized, double-blind , cohort study to conduct a sequential immunization clinical study in people aged 18 and above who have completed 2 or 3 doses of the new coronavirus vaccine to evaluate Omicron Safety and immunogenicity of inactivated vaccine against novel coronavirus .
This inactivated COVID-19 vaccine is the first inactivated vaccine against the Austrian strain of COVID-19 to be approved for clinical use in the world. Research results show that the inactivated vaccine against the Austrian strain of COVID-19 can produce high-titer neutralizing antibodies against the Austrian strain and multiple mutant strains.
After the news was disclosed, Sinopharm Holdings was closed in a straight line, and the total market value rose to 20.8 billion yuan. H shares Sinopharm Holdings once soared by more than 5%, and Fosun Pharma A shares also followed the daily limit.
According to reports, Sinopharm China Biotechnology has introduced the Omicron mutation from University of Hong Kong on the basis of the prototype strain of the new crown inactivated vaccine that has been launched in the early stage and the completion of the development of beta and delta variant inactivated vaccines. strain, on December 9, 2021, the research and development of an inactivated vaccine for the Austrian strain was quickly launched.
Subsequently, Sinovac Biotechnology also announced on its public account that the National Medical Products Administration officially approved the new coronavirus inactivated vaccine developed by SINOVAC Sinovac based on the Omicron mutant strain to enter clinical research to evaluate the new coronavirus. Safety and immunogenicity of variant vaccines in various populations.
It should be pointed out that after obtaining the clinical approval document, it needs to undergo rigorous clinical research before it can be approved for marketing use.
Prior to this, Zheng Zhongwei, leader of the vaccine research and development working group of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, revealed that my country's three vaccines against the Omicron variant strain have already begun clinical trials and are expected to be successfully launched in the near future.
Editor: Tactical Heng
