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A COVID-19 patient is transported to Daegu Catholic University Medical Center on Mar. 13. (Yonhap News)

With a confirmed novel coronavirus patient in their 20s in critical condition due to a “cytokine storm,” public health officials announced that they would continue observing the patient’s condition and listen to the opinions of critical experts to develop treatment guidelines. The World Health Organization (WHO) also sent a message warning that young people “are not invincible” to the virus.

At a regular briefing on Mar. 22, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced that a total of 89 patients were currently in serious or critical condition, including 28 in severe condition and 61 in critical condition. The list of patients in critical condition included one in their 20s and one in their 40s. Another patient in their 20shad been classified the day before as being in serious condition, but underwent an improvement over the following day. As of Mar. 22, patients in their 20s represented 2,396 out of the 8,897 people cumulatively diagnosed with the coronavirus in South Korea, or 27%.

The critical patient in their 20s is currently hospitalized at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, where they are receiving treatment with an oxygen regulator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Kim Sin-woo, director of Daegu’s infection disease control support team, said on Mar. 20 that the patient’s condition “is believed to be related to a cytokine storm.” A cytokine storm is a phenomenon in which immune capabilities are excessively stimulated in response to a virus and begin attacking normal cells, resulting in an excessive inflammatory response; the complication occurs frequently among younger people. In addition to the coronavirus, cytokine storms are reported to be caused by other viruses, including those responsible for MERS and SARS.

The emergence of a critical patient in their 20s has prompted public health officials to pursue response measures. In a briefing that day, KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook said, “This is not a situation where young people can simply rest easy. Not only that, but even when their symptoms are mild, they can play a far greater role as links in spreading infections.” The KCDC plans to develop related treatment guidelines after listening to opinions from front-line clinical specialists treating the coronavirus.

By Lee Yu-jin, staff reporter

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