State Health Commissioner Judith Perschilli reported one new case of multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children — an increase of six since Friday.
The children infected in New Jersey, which has to the second-most coronavirus deaths and cases in America, have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have antibodies that were positive for it, “indicating exposure to the virus,” Persichilli said during the state’s daily briefing in Trenton.
“It is believed to be an aggressive, abnormal immune response to the virus,” she said.
Officials have said the the new disorder has symptoms similar to Kawasaki Disease or toxic shock. But Persichilli said most of the new inflammatory diseases cases have occurred in older children who were previously healthy, while classic Kawasaki Disease affects young children.
“We’re still very early in understanding this new syndrome,” said Dr. Edward Lifshitz, director of the state Department of Health’s communicable disease service.
There have been no deaths from the syndrome in New Jersey, Persichilli said. Seven of the children remain hospitalized, she said.
The children affected range in ages from 1 to 18, Persichilli said. The risk varies by race, she said, but black children have a disproportionately high number of cases.
The breakdown of cases by race is: 26% white, 26% black, 27% Hispanic, 7% Asian, and 4% other, Persichilli said.
In neighboring New York state — home to the nation’s most coronavirus cases — there have been 189 cases of the syndrome, with three deaths. Of those, 93% have tested positive for COVID-19.
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New Jersey, a densely populated state of 9 million residents, has reported 11,770 known deaths attributed to the coronavirus, with at least 161,545 cases, since the outbreak here started March 4.
State officials on Tuesday reported 51 new deaths and 708 new cases in New Jersey, though they stress the outbreak continues to slow.
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