Educational setting and SARS-CoV-2 transmission among children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome: a French national surveillance system

Background: multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is the most severe form associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. To reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at the population level, educational setting closure have been implemented in many countries. However, the direct benefit of school closure on the MIS-C burden remains to be explored. We aimed to assess the role of educational settings in SARS-CoV-2 transmission among children with MIS-C. Methods: we conducted a French national prospective surveillance of MIS-C, coordinated by Public Health France, from April 2020 to March 2021. During this period, we included all children with MIS-C fulfilling the WHO definition who were reported to Public Health France. For each child, we traced the source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The main outcome was the proportion of children with MIS-C, with educational setting-related SARS-CoV-2 infection, during the period of school opening. Results: we included 142 children fulfilling WHO criteria for MIS-C: 104 (70%) cases occurred during school opening periods. In total, 62/104 children (60%, 95%CI [50; 69]) had been contaminated by a household contact and 5/104 in educational settings (5%, 95%CI [2; 11]). Among children with MIS-C occurring during school closure periods, the proportion of household transmission remained similar (66%, 25/38). Conclusion: children with MIS-C were mainly infected by SARS-CoV-2 within their family environment, and the educational setting played a marginal role in this transmission. This suggests that mitigating school attendance may not reduce substantially the burden of MIS-C.

Author(s): Guenver Celia, Oualha Mehdi, Levy Corinne, Antona Denise, Madhi Fouad, Toubiana Julie, Lachaume Noémie, Javouhey Etienne, Lorrot Mathie, Yang David Dawei, Levy Michael, Caseris Marion, Galeotti Caroline, Ovaert Caroline, Wiedemann Arnaud, Girardin Marie-Laure, Rybak Alexis, Cohen Robert, Belot Alexandre, Angoulvant François, Ouldali Naïm

Publishing year: 2021

Pages: 1-7

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