1.5-year-old Boy In Singapore Dies From COVID-19 And This Is The First Case For A Toddler

Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash

JAKARTA - Singapore mourns. A boy who was only one and a half years old died after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Just so you know, this is the first COVID-19 death for the country under the age of 12.

The ministry explained that the patient had no other medical history and was previously fine. The boy died last Monday, June 27.

"The cause of death was Encephalitis due to COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Enterovirus infections," said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a media release quoted by Channel News Asia, Tuesday 28 June.

Last June 21, this boy was rushed to the pediatric emergency unit at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH). At that time the victim had a high fever and repeated seizures, with subsequent loss of consciousness.

He was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit in critical condition on June 22 and was diagnosed with severe meningoencephalitis. This refers to a neurological condition involving encephalitis or inflammation of the brain, and an infection of the meninges or the membranes covering the brain.

His polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was positive for COVID-19 as well as two other viruses – rhinovirus/enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus.

The ministry noted that COVID-19 can cause severe illness, even in children and those with no previous medical condition.

"Vaccination substantially reduces the chance of severe illness when a person is infected," the MOH said.

“All children aged five to 11 years are recommended to be vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine, especially children with underlying chronic medical conditions.”

The ministry added that authorities would study the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of five. This comes after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on June 18 recommended a COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as six months old.

"The Ministry of Health extends our deepest condolences to the patient's family. We understand that KKH is liaising with the family to provide the necessary support."