[2] It may be present in the gut without causing symptoms and can be detected by using molecular based assays and enzyme immunoassay.

[2][3] As of August 2022, human adenovirus 41 has been identified in a majority of small children with hepatitis of unknown cause in 2 case series.

[3] In an investigation of 5 children with an inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) of unknown cause at Birmingham, Alabama in October 2021, all turned out to have human adenovirus 41.

[6] In August 2022, 9 children in a U.S. case series of hepatitis of unknown cause[7] and 27 of 30 children in a U.K. case series with hepatitis of unknown cause who underwent molecular testing[8] tested positive for human adenovirus type 41 in a sample.

[2] Globally it is a significant cause of gastroenteritis, particularly in low and middle income countries,[5][9] but less common than rotavirus and norovirus.