Should we worry about children? While several countries, including France, are facing a recent increase in the number of children with symptoms resembling Kawasaki disease, a vascular syndrome affecting young children and the cause of which remains unknown, no link is for the instant established with the coronavirus, remind the health authorities. Virologist and member of the Scientific Council, Professor Bruno Lina believes that "these are still weak warning signals".
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"These Kawasaki stories already exist with other viral infections", explains the scientist, interviewed by Europe 1. "We do not understand mechanics well, but we know that the coronavirus has a vascular tropism, and is capable of triggering mechanisms of damage to blood vessels, "he continues.
No cases reported in Germany
While no link with the coronavirus has yet been established, "we are extremely cautious", specifies Bruno Lina, who recalls that while some countries like France and England have identified a certain number of cases, others, like Germany, have not identified any. "These are still weak warning signs, with an impact that is difficult to estimate," he said. He added: "For example, in a group investigated, only 30% of patients with this symptomatology were positive for the coronavirus."
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If many parents are already worried about the upcoming reopening of schools from May 11, Bruno Lina believes that "having a weak signal that is significant on Kawasaki syndrome is not enough to restore cause schools to open. "