Authorities: "Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Suspected Cases Unrelated to COVID-19... Kawasaki Disease" (Update)

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 <이미지: Yonhap News>

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The health authorities have determined that both patients reported as suspected cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and adolescents in South Korea are unrelated to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a regular briefing on the 3rd, "Both of the two suspected syndrome cases reported last month from medical institutions in the Seoul area do not correspond to this syndrome and were diagnosed as Kawasaki disease shock syndrome."

After similar diseases were reported mainly among children and adolescents overseas in the US and Europe, our health authorities also established case definitions for multisystem inflammatory syndrome and received reports from frontline medical institutions. Last month, an 11-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl were reported, and subsequent genetic (PCR) tests to check for COVID-19 infection came back negative.

Subsequently, antibody tests were conducted to determine whether they had been previously infected or exposed to other infectious agents, confirming that the cases were unrelated to COVID-19. Both patients have been discharged, and another child was additionally reported as a suspected case, but this patient is also considered to have a low likelihood of COVID-19 association. According to the health authorities, 230 cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome have been reported in Europe and 102 cases in the US, with 2 and 3 deaths respectively.

Head Jung stated, "We will continue to monitor international trends related to multisystem inflammatory syndrome and maintain surveillance and investigation systems for domestic occurrences."