Children at risk of strep A in England could be given preventive antibiotics

The UK Health Security Agency said prescribing antibiotics to children in a school or nursery exposed to non-invasive strep A was rare. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Primary schoolchildren at risk from a severe form of strep A could be given preventive antibiotics as a blanket measure, in a move described as “rare” by health officials.

At least nine children have died due to complications from strep A bacterial infections since September, with one senior health official suggesting the early start to the strep A season in the UK could be a knock-on effect to immunity levels caused by Covid measures, although others have downplayed the impact lockdowns may have had.