According to the London Health Sciences Center (LHSC), Children’s Hospital in London, Ontario, is investigating fewer than five possible cases of severe acute hepatitis in children.

In a statement to Global News on Wednesday, an LHSC spokesperson confirmed that the London-based children’s hospital had fewer than five patients with symptoms consistent with the reported virus by the start of 2022.

For privacy reasons, the LHSC did not confirm the number or age of the patients, but said they were all under 18.

It comes after SickKids Hospital confirmed on Tuesday that it was investigating seven probable cases of severe acute hepatitis in patients from October 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022.

The spokesperson also said they were working with SickKids and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Hepatitis is usually caused by one of several contagious hepatitis viruses, such as A or B, which have not been found in affected children. A PHAC spokesperson reports that the disease is “very rare” in Canada and causes inflammation of the liver.

PHAC advises parents and caregivers to watch for symptoms like fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and pale stools.

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Mysterious cases of hepatitis in children reported in Canada

There have been international reports of children with this disease who have suffered severe and sudden liver disease. Children affected so far range in age from one month to 16 years.

Most cases have occurred in Europe. The first cases in the UK were recorded in January, while the US detected its first cases in October in Alabama.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday there were now 348 probable cases of acute hepatitis in children in five regions of the world.

It’s still unclear how many total cases there are in Canada, but one known case was reported Tuesday by Shared Health Manitoba.

A PHAC spokesperson said they are aware of cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in young children under investigation in Ontario at SickKids Hospital. The spokesperson said the province is reviewing these cases and those who meet the case definition will be reported to PHAC for inclusion in the national investigation.

On April 14, through the Canadian National Public Health Intelligence (CNPHI) platform, PHAC alerted provincial and territorial public health authorities to increase their vigilance for potential illnesses meeting the case definition of the virus.

– with files from Global News Shane Gibson, Gabby Rodrigues, Aaron D’Andrea and Hannah Jackson

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WHO confirms 348 probable cases of acute hepatitis in children