First known US kid virus death was teen 'in good health'
26 March, 2020
The first known loss of life of a child due to the novel coronavirus in the United States was a teenager in previously good health, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said Tuesday.
The death of the youth from Lancaster, just north of Los Angeles, was reported hours earlier by public health officials, and comes regardless of the disease not typically proving extreme for juveniles.
"A teenager in good well being, succumbed to the virus," said Garcetti.
"To the young persons that are out there -- this may hit you too. Understand that your patterns can save a existence, and can have a lifestyle. And that lifestyle could be yours," he added.
The victim's identification and sex were not specified.
"COVID-19 does not discriminate by age, race or income level," said LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer, using the scientific term for the disease caused by the SARS-coV-2 virus.
Multiple analyses have found COVID-19 disproportionately influences older patients and those with underlying conditions.
A recently available Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) article found juveniles "may actually have milder COVID-19 illness," without intensive treatment admissions or deaths in the US as of March 16.
"Similar to studies from various other countries, this finding shows that the risk for serious illness and death from COVID-19 is normally higher found in older age ranges," it found.
Only two well-known cases of minors dying from the disease in China have been recorded. In a single case, a child had a pre-existing intestinal state. The other's situation had not been known.
"The risk for serious disease and loss of life in COVID-19 instances among persons in the usa increases with age," the CDC report added.
California has been among the worst-hit US says during the pandemic.
Los Angeles County -- which is home to 10 million occupants -- has confirmed 662 conditions of coronavirus, with in least 11 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
TAG(s):