Some evidence shows children may be ‘Covid spreaders, rather than super-spreaders’: ICMR (File)
New Delhi:
There is evidence that shows that children who were previously thought to be protected from coronavirus infection may be “spreaders, rather than super-spreaders,” ICMR CEO Balram Bhargava said on Tuesday.
Speaking on the spread of the coronavirus infection in the country among children, Mr Bhargava said that overall the figure in India is that, below the age of 17, only 8% are positive for COVID -19.
“Below five years the number would probably be less than one percent, but then we can come back with a number for that,” he said.
In response to a question about the increase in the number of cases among children in Mizoram, there are 315 active coronavirus cases in the state to date.
Regarding Kawasaki disease and presumably a link to COVID-19, Mr Bhargava said India has so far not reported any cases of Kawasaki disease in COVID-19 patients.
Kawasaki is an autoimmune disease that affects children under the age of five and presents with fever, thrombocytosis, and a condition in which the arteries in the heart dilate and become aneurysm. It is therefore a rare disease that affects more men than women. The disease is more common in the United States and less common in India, Bhargava said during a press briefing.
“It has been described with COVID-19 in different parts of the world. I don’t think we’ve had a Kawasaki experience with COVID-19 in India so far. It is a very rare condition.
“Having said that, we have to remember that it affects small children and the arteries in the heart dilate and clots can form in it and that can lead to heart attacks and can be harmful to the child as well,” he said. he declared.
