Health experts have moved to reassure parents after a sixth child died of Strep A in the UK. Over the last week, the bacterial infection has claimed the lives of Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, four, from High Wycombe, Hanna Reap, seven, from Penarth, Wales, a six-year-old from Ashford in Surrey and a primary-school aged child from north Ealing, London.
Two other English youngsters aged under 10 - whose names, ages and locations have not been made public - also passed away within seven days of being diagnosed, although the dates of their deaths are not yet know. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) told the Mirror that scarlet fever infections are up this year compared to normal - and health chiefs warned parents to be on the lookout for deadly warning signs that could turn into invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
But this afternoon (December 2), a spokesperson for the UKHSA said: "Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain is circulating. The increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria and social mixing."
