As our world becomes more and more connected, illnesses spread across the globe more rapidly than ever before. And COVID-19 was a prime example of this.

In this article, we’ll discuss a new study on child hepatitis and some unexplained cases in the U.S. Plus, we’ll also dive into a recent Salmonella outbreak that’s been linked to flour consumption and some tips on how to prevent it.

Ready? Let’s get started.

A New Study on Child Hepatitis in the U.S

Last year, many children across the globe developed severe hepatitis. There were 1000 cases worldwide distributed mainly in the UK and the USA, bearing more than 50% of the reported cases.

As hepatitis in children isn’t a frequent phenomenon, this situation led to global concern among health professionals. Studies suggest that these outbreaks may have been caused by adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2), a virus that isn’t typically related to hepatitis.

Academic researchers, state health departments, and the CDC examined biological samples from 16 American children with unexplained hepatitis. From the sampled kids:

• 13 tested positive for AAV2
• Most also had at least one herpes virus

As well as other surprising diseases that spread last year, these hepatitis new cases were related to the easing of pandemic measures. Large numbers of young children suddenly got exposed to common viruses they had not previously encountered, leading to sickness.

Hepatitis Treatment

Now, what about hepatitis treatment? Unfortunately, we cannot determine a specific treatment until there’s a better understanting of these viruses.

Further research is needed to determine whether:

• The viruses are directly damaging the patients’ liver, in which case antivirals would be the best treatment
• The viruses are causing an immune overreaction among patients, which would make steroids the better treatment option.

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Flour in the U.S

An outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning has affected 11 states in the U.S. And a dozen cases were linked to raw flour consumption. While no specific flour brands have been implicated, most of the patients interviewed admitted to consuming raw or battered dough in the week leading up to their illness.

Raw flour is frequently contaminated with germs that can cause food poisoning. Although cooking destroys Salmonella bacteria, people can still become ill by consuming uncooked flour.

What’s more, the CDC suspects that the outbreak may be much more extensive than reported.

Salmonella symptoms include:

• Diarrhea and fever higher than 102°F
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days (not improving)
• Bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Signs of dehydration

And if you were wondering how to prevent salmonella, the experts recommend:

• Not eating raw dough or batter
• Thoroughly cooking foods made with raw flour
• Washing hands and utensils used to handle it
• Washing hands with warm water and soap before and after using raw flour
• Keeping raw flour, dough, and butter separate from foods that won’t be cooked
• Call a healthcare provider immediately if you experience any symptoms.

Key Takeaways

We have seen the importance of staying informed and taking precautions while traveling. Keeping up with the latest research and studies is particularly important, but you can never be too thorough with your food hygiene.

Diseases like salmonella are easy to avoid if you take the necessary precautions. Both while at home and abroad.

Need a test before you go on your next adventure? Discover COVID testing centers near you with our international directory.