A family has paid a heartbreaking tribute to their "darling" boy who died from Strep A.
Jax Albert Jefferys died aged five on December 1, before it was later confirmed he passed away from the infection after the family sought medical assistance three times.
They were initially told Jax was suffering from flu before his condition worsened.
His heartbroken family said in a statement: "Our darling son Jax Albert Jefferys sadly passed away at the age of five on the 1st December. Only after his death was it confirmed that the cause was the Strep A virus.
"We had sought medical advice on three occasions during the four days leading up to his death and told that he was suffering with influenza A, we then followed the recommended course of action; to administer a proprietary paracetamol based medication in the prescribed dosage.
"On the fourth day Jax's condition deteriorated so much that we rushed him to hospital and by 10 o'clock on the Thursday evening of the 1st December he had passed away. We would dearly like to express our deepest thanks to all the hospital staff who did their utmost to save Jax.
"We sincerely ask that people respect our privacy at this time as we try to come to terms with our loss."
Jax attended Morelands Primary School in Crookhorn Lane, in Waterlooville.
Headteacher Alison Syred-Paul said in a statement: "Very tragically, we have learned of the death in recent days of a child who attended our school, who was also diagnosed with an invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infection. We are absolutely devastated by the loss of one of our young pupils and offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the child's family at this extremely sad time."
He added: "We ask that the privacy of the family is respected. We are working closely with public health authorities to ensure that the family, our pupils and staff receive support.
"As a precaution, we have also been raising awareness amongst parents, carers and our school community of the signs and symptoms of Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infections, and what to do if a child develops these, including invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infection."
It comes after the deaths of Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, 4, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and Hanna Roap, 7, in Penarth, Wales.
A 12-year-old student from Lewisham, London has also died, their school confirmed, while a six-year-old died in Ashford, Surrey in late November.
Sixteen children under the age of 15 have died from Strep A across Britain this winter.
The condition can normally be treated with antibiotics but symptoms, such as a fever and sore throat, can be mistaken for other viruses.
But experts fear a lack of immunity after Covid-19 lockdowns and social distancing could be to blame.
Group A strep bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from minor illnesses to deadly diseases.
Illnesses caused by Strep A include skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.
While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, sometimes the bacteria cause a life-threatening illness called invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
The UKHSA has said there is no current evidence that a new strain is circulating and the rise in cases is most likely due to high amounts of circulating bacteria and increased social mixing.
