There’s mounting concern in Britain about a rare inflammatory condition presenting in very young children that may have links to Covid-19.
Britain’s health secretary has confirmed some children have died from the illness and they are now investigating whether the cases are connected to the virus.
Across Europe, a small cluster of children are experiencing a condition similar to Kawasaki disease which is more common in Asia.
With a rise in cases coinciding with the coronavirus pandemic, health officials are urgently investigating whether they are linked.
“It is entirely plausible this is caused by this virus, at least in some cases,” said England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty.
The disease triggers a reaction similar to Toxic Shock Syndrome in which patients have flu-like symptoms, a fever, rashes and difficulty breathing.
There have been cases in Spain, larger numbers in Italy and now the United States too.
Asked about the syndrome on LBC, British Health Minister Hancock appeared to say that some children with no underlying health conditions had died from it.
But the British health ministry later clarified that he had been speaking about Covid-19 more generally.
“We are not aware of any confirmed cases of children dying from this syndrome,” a ministry spokesman said. “The minister did not say that there are confimed cases of children dying from this syndrome.”
Officials in New Zealand are taking note.
“A small number of children with Kawasaki disease and some of these have been Covid positive and some haven't. These are the sorts of things we are looking at on a daily basis just to see if this is something we need to advise out clinicans about. or look for,” Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.
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