No acute hepatitis cases, deaths reported in Beijing: officials

(ECNS) -- Beijing has not detected any acute hepatitis cases of unknown origin or related deaths so far, local authorities confirmed Wednesday.

"Beijing reported the first case of acute hepatitis of unknown origin" is a rumor, Beijing Municipal Health Commission said.

In response to recent cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin abroad, Beijing issued “Notice on Strengthening the Treatment of Cases of Hepatitis of Unknown Origin among Children" to alert medical institutions citywide to prevent and control the disease.

The World Health Organization has reported 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in kids ages one month to 16 years old worldwide as of April 21.

According to the WHO report, cases have been reported in the United Kingdom(114), Spain (13), Israel (12), the U.S. (9), Denmark (6), Ireland (<5), The Netherlands (4), Italy (4), Norway (2), France (2), Romania (1), and Belgium (1).