A health staffer collects samples on Saturday
In the past month, there have been 29 cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a condition associated with Covid-19, in Ballari and Vijayanagar districts. One patient, a year-old baby, passed away, and this is thought to be the first such case in the state.
Of the 29 children, 25 have been discharged, while three have been admitted to the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) in Ballari. All are aged below 14 years.
According to Ballari district health officer Dr HL Janardhan, MIS-C predominantly develops in children with a history of Covid-19. Parents are concerned ahead of a potential third wave of the pandemic. But Dr Janardhan sought to allay the fears, saying the condition can be tackled with timely hospital treatment. “There is no need for parents to panic. But one must take precautions,” he said.