Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in New Zealand Children

New Zealand (NZ) initially adopted an elimination approach to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Pre-Omicron variant, the NZ pediatric population was immunologically naive to SARS-CoV-2. This study, utilizing national data sources, describes the NZ incidence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) following infection with the Omicron variant. MIS-C incidence was 1.03 of 100,000 age-specific population and 0.04 of 1000 recorded SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Automated summary

New Zealand initially aimed to eliminate SARS-CoV-2, and before the Omicron variant, the pediatric population was not immune to it. This study, using national data sources, reports the incidence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) following Omicron infection in New Zealand. The incidence rate of MIS-C was 1.03 per 100,000 age-specific population and 0.04 per 1000 recorded SARS-CoV-2 infections.