Health Authorities "Children's Mysterious Syndrome Not Yet in Korea... Will Monitor Closely" (Update)

US CDC Names 'Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome'
Jung Eun-kyung: "Will Establish Similar Case Reporting System with Academic Societies"

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), attended a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 8th at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Cheongju, Chungbuk, regarding the current status of domestic COVID-19 cases and interim investigation results of confirmed patients. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] While reports of 'pediatric inflammatory syndrome' suspected to be related to COVID-19 have been continuously occurring overseas in the United States and Europe, domestic cases have not been confirmed, according to quarantine authorities. However, as the United States has issued warnings, the quarantine authorities plan to establish a reporting system in cooperation with related academic societies to prepare for any possible situations.

On the 15th, Kwak Jin, head of the Patient Management Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), stated at a briefing held at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Osong, Chungbuk, "According to confirmation with domestic pediatric infection experts, cases similar to those reported in Europe and the United States have not yet been reported domestically."

Kwak added, "According to domestic experts' opinions, no evidence has yet been found to confirm the relationship between these pediatric unusual cases and COVID-19."

Earlier, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) referred to children showing symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease, such as multisystem inflammation, related to COVID-19 as 'Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)' and urged careful monitoring of patients exhibiting related symptoms.

If a child has a fever above 38 degrees Celsius for at least 24 hours, inflammation, severe illness requiring hospitalization involving at least two organs such as the heart, kidneys, or lungs, and has been infected with COVID-19 or exposed to the virus within four weeks before symptom onset, the syndrome should be suspected. Immediate reporting is required if a child meeting all or part of the Kawasaki disease criteria dies.

Regarding this, Jung Eun-kyung, head of the CDCH, said, "We will also closely monitor and establish a reporting and investigation system for similar cases in connection with pediatric infection and Kawasaki disease academic societies."

Kwak stated, "We have confirmed that the U.S. CDC has issued guidelines on pediatric unusual cases. We are also monitoring reports of similar cases in the U.S. and Europe and related research and investigations announced by each country and region."

However, he added, "We are continuously monitoring the possibility and, together with experts, are monitoring the potential for similar cases to occur domestically and are developing specific plans accordingly."

Meanwhile, according to foreign media, at least 110 COVID-19-related pediatric unusual cases have been reported in New York State alone, with 17 cases in New Jersey and 6 in California, and similar cases are emerging in other states. Similar cases have also been reported in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.