15 NYC Kids Hospitalized With Rare Coronavirus-Linked Disease

NEW YORK CITY — Fifteen children with a rare, novel coronavirus-linked and potentially fatal disease have been admitted to New York City hospitals, officials said.

Four of the young Kawasaki disease patients, between the ages of 2 and 15, tested positive for the coronavirus and six tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, the city’s Health Department said.

Five of the kids required ventilation since between April 17 and May 1 and, as of Monday evening, none had died, officials said.

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The disease, which inflames blood vessel walls, causes temperatures to spike, eyes to redden and neck glands to swell, said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, deputy city health commissioner for disease control, in his memo to health care providers.

"Only severe cases may have been recognized at this time," warned Daskalakis. "If the above-described inflammatory syndrome is suspected, pediatricians should immediately refer patients to a specialist in pediatric infectious disease, rheumatology, and/or critical care."

Symptoms can also include rash, vomiting and a "strawberry tongue," said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot.

The Health Department memo comes out one week after reporters quizzed the commissioner about the disease, spurring Barbot to request more information from doctors on the field.

"We're not sure what to make of this yet," said Barbot. "We're still learning how COVID-19 behaves."

There have been a small number of Kawasaki cases reported in Boston and Philadelphia, said Barbot.

The World Health Organization began investigating a possible connection between Kawasaki disease and COVID-19 after its appearance in Italy and the United Kingdom raised concerns among health care workers.

"I take this seriously," Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday morning. "This is something that is causing concern, I want to make sure New Yorkers are aware."

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