Health Ministry investigates 3 fatal ‘mystery’ child hepatitis cases in Jakarta

Three children in Jakarta died at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in the latter half of April from an unknown strain of the liver disease after showing symptoms that included jaundice, diarrhea and vomiting. The three patients also experienced fever, nausea, convulsions and loss of consciousness.

The Health Ministry has alerted regional administrations and health authorities about the mysterious disease. It was also investigating the disease, which it said could be related to a hepatitis outbreak, affecting nearly 230 children from 1 month to 16 years old in at least 20 countries.

The first five cases were detected in Scotland on March 31, 2022. Other cases have since appeared in the United States, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, France, Romania and Belgium.

The child hepatitis deaths in Jakarta have brought the global death toll to four, with the first suspected death in the US.