CANADA HAS 22 CASES OF ACUTE HEPATITIS IN CHILDREN

Spain has reported its first two deaths from acute hepatitis, or liver inflammation, among children — an illness whose causes are unknown and is being monitored by world health officials. Spain's health ministry said that 46 cases of the illness have been reported in Spain and that three required liver transplants. Of the three, two died — a 15-month-old baby in June and a six-year-old in July. In early July, the World Health Organization reported 1,010 cases of severe acute hepatitis in children in 35 countries, including 22 deaths.

As of July 27, there were 22 cases of acute severe hepatitis in children in Canada, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Eleven cases were in Ontario, four in Alberta, three in both Manitoba and Quebec, and one in British Columbia. All the children were hospitalized, two required a liver transplant. No deaths have been reported. Health officials remain perplexed by the causes of the hepatitis and say the best available evidence points to a stomach bug.