One baby in the U.K. is dead and eight others out of 15 who were sickened by a normally harmless virus are in intensive care after suffering myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart.

The virus that made them ill is enterovirus, which tested positive in nine of the babies. British health officials said a cluster in cases in such a short period of time is baffling, adding that 10 cases were detected in Wales between June 2022 and March 2023; in the previous six years only one case was reported.

The World Health Organization has since issued an alert on the illness, noting that it could recommend school and childcare closings if the cases continue to surge.

SOURCE:

Daily Mail May 17, 2023