Authorities Report 2 Suspected Cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Adolescents (Update)

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Suspected cases of pediatric and adolescent multisystem inflammatory syndrome reported in the United States and Europe have also been reported domestically. It has been just one day since the quarantine authorities activated the surveillance system in Korea.

On the 26th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a regular briefing, "As of 0:00 today, two suspected cases have been reported," adding, "Both are from medical institutions in the Seoul area, with one under 10 years old and one in their teens."

Among them, the case under 10 years old does not meet the case definition presented by the quarantine authorities, but an investigation is underway. The authorities consider this disease to apply to those under 19 years old who have a fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher lasting for 24 hours and require hospitalization due to severe conditions involving two or more multisystem organs.

Furthermore, no other pathogens causing inflammation should be identified, and there must be evidence of COVID-19 infection or exposure to COVID-19 within four weeks prior to onset. No officially confirmed cases have been identified domestically yet, and since the day before, suspected cases have been reported from patients visiting or being admitted or discharged from medical institutions nationwide.

Both patients tested negative for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the genetic (PCR) test. However, investigations are ongoing to determine whether they had past infections or contact with other confirmed cases. Deputy Director Kwon explained, "If the onset period goes back quite far, the current diagnostic test may show negative results," adding, "We are at the stage of checking antibody levels that can indicate past infection and verifying whether there were additional patients among family members or contacts."

Pediatric and adolescent multisystem inflammatory syndrome was first reported in Europe last April and has since been occurring mainly in the United States and Europe. As of the 23rd, the number of affected countries has expanded to 13, raising global concerns.

Deputy Director Kwon said, "In the case of Kawasaki disease, an acute febrile rash illness, the main age group is usually under 5 years old, but the World Health Organization has raised the age range to 19 years for this disease, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that it is 'still unknown' for adults, indicating that much remains to be discovered."