Key Points or Updates:
(1)
As of May 5, 2022, CDC and state partners are
investigating 109 children with hepatitis of unknown origin across 25 states
and territories. A possible association between pediatric hepatitis and
adenovirus infection is under investigation.
(2)
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH)
Communicable Disease Service (CDS) is working with CDC to ascertain if similar
illnesses have been detected in New Jersey.
(3)
This message is an update to the LINCS message
issued on 4/22/22 and includes updated epidemiologic information and testing
recommendations since that posting.
Action Items:
1.
In addition to workup for common causes of
hepatitis (viral testing for hepatitis A,B,C,E), healthcare providers should
consider testing for adenovirus using NAAT (e.g. PCR) of respiratory specimens,
blood, stool, and rectal swabs.
2.
NJDOH requests that healthcare providers report
suspected cases of hepatitis of unknown etiology to NJDOH, specifically:
a.
Children <10 years of age with elevated
aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (>500
U/L) who have an unknown etiology for their hepatitis (with or without any
adenovirus testing results, independent of the results) since October 1, 2021.
3.
Cases should be reported to NJDOH via a secure
online portal: http://healthsurveys.nj.gov/NoviSurvey/n/zz36l.aspx
4.
NJDOH will carefully review reports received via
the above online portal, create cases and link them to E-2022-23125 in CDRSS
5.
NJDOH will help coordinate additional testing
for individuals who meet the above case definition and test positive for
adenovirus.
This information has been broadcast to: Community Health Centers (FQHCs); Long-term Care; Health Care Facilities / Other; Health Care Organizations; Health Care Providers; Hospital Staff Directory; Hospital CEOs; Hospital Emerg Preparedness Coords; Hospital ER Medical Directors; Hospital Infection Control Practitioners; Hospital Medical Directors; Hospital Nursing Directors; Hospital Security Directors; ICU Administrator; Lab Director; Hospitals / Acute Care; Hospitals / Other; Labs / Non-Sentinel; Labs / Sentinel; Local Boards of Health; NJDOH Staff; NJLINCS and Local Contacts; NJLINCS Community; Public Health Associations; Public Health Council; Public Health Sector