A five-year-old boy died in New York State from an inflammatory disease with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease, probably linked to Covid-19, said the governor of New York on Friday.
The death, which occurred Thursday, comes as the epidemic has been slowly receding since mid-April in New York State, which has long been the epicenter of it in the United States.
There are now 73 reported cases of such symptoms in children in this state, where the epidemic is receding, he said. The small hospitalized patients all had fever, and some had rashes, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea.
A link to Covid-19 not formally established
For the past two weeks, several countries have reported cases of children affected by these symptoms close to a rare condition, Kawasaki disease.
Described for the first time in 1967 in Japan, this disease mainly affects young children. Its origin is not precisely known and could combine infectious, genetic and immune factors. The link with Covid-19 is not formally established, but scientists believe it is likely.
Health officials have suggested that there may be many more cases, only the most serious having been reported.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called on all New York parents to be vigilant and to report any child who has similar symptoms to health professionals. Pediatricians have also been alerted, so as to better identify possible new cases.
