A child has died from a probable case of hepatitis, the HSE has confirmed.
It's one of 6 cases identified in Ireland over the past 10 weeks in children aged between 1 and 12 years old.
A second child has received a liver transplant.
The World Health Organisation says at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis in children have been reported in the UK, EU and the USA.
Consultant Endocrinologist at on Secours Hospital Limerick Dr Mary Ryan, says investigations are still ongoing to identify the cause of these illnesses.
"We're still under investigation as to what's causing it.
"Hepatitss is inflammation of the liver. The normally causes would be to hepatitis A B, C, D and E.
"But adenovirus, which is your flu virus can usually cause respiratory disease in children and adults.
"But in these cases where it what they found is 75% of the cases have been tested of hepatitis show adenovirus or when they do liver biopsies they're not finding adenovirus."
