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Health Ministry investigates mysterious hepatitis that killed three children in Jakarta
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Three children in Indonesia have died from what is believed to be unexplained acute hepatitis, according to the Health Ministry on May 1. (Shutterstock/*)
T
he Health Ministry said it was investigating the deaths of three children in Jakarta that it said might be linked to a mysterious hepatitis outbreak that has sickened hundreds of children in at least 20 countries.
The three children, aged two, eight and 11, died in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) between mid and late April after displaying jaundice, diarrhea and vomiting – some of the symptoms that were also found in clusters of unexplained hepatitis cases that have emerged among children around the globe.
The three cases in RSCM also experienced fever, nausea, convulsions and loss of consciousness, Health Ministry spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said in a statement on Monday. They were referred from smaller hospitals in East Jakarta and West Jakarta.
The deaths in Jakarta brought the global death toll to four, AFP reported.
The Health Ministry suspects the cases to be acute hepatitis of unknown origin, though they caution that the investigation is ongoing.
Nadia said that her office was still running a full panel of virus tests to find out the causes of infection, while the Jakarta Health Agency was conducting an epidemiological investigation.
She urged people to stay calm yet cautious and maintain personal hygiene.
