Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said that the Government is not currently contemplating any “Covid-type measures” to tackle Strep A.
The HSE confirmed on Wednesday that a four-year-old child had died after contracting the bacterial infection.
Schools and parents have been advised that children with a fever, cough or sore throat should stay at home in a bid to stop the spread of infection.
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During the Covid-19 pandemic, children were placed in pods in classrooms in a bid to minimise mingling between groups.
However, the Tánaiste confirmed to the Irish Mirror that these sorts of measures are not under consideration for Strep A.
“We're not at the point where we're contemplating any Covid-type measures,” Mr Varadkar said.
“This is not a virus. It's different. This is a bacterial infection. The number of cases thankfully so far is relatively low. But I do think one thing that Covid has taught all of us is a little bit more about how we manage infectious diseases.
“Some of the advice that applied to Covid is valid and certainly it is that if your child is sick, has a sore throat, is coughing, has a temperature, best to keep them out of school, monitor them closely and seek medical attention if you think they’re getting worse.”
Mr Varadkar said that the Government is “very concerned” about Strep A.
He stated that while the coalition is aware of penicillin shortages in the UK, they have not been made aware of any potential shortages in the drug that is used to treat the infection. He added: “It is a treatable illness.”
The HSE sent a letter to schools on Wednesday evening warning that it has seen a “large increase in general viral infections among children and young people this winter”.
This is because children are mixing together more. In previous years social contact was much reduced. This in turn reduced the rates of routine infection,” the health service said.
The HSE also advised that symptoms of a viral infection include a runny or blocked nose,a mild fever, a cough, tiredness and a rash
To date in 2022, the HPSC has been notified of 55 cases in Ireland, 14 were in children aged under 10 years old compared to 22 cases in children aged under 10 for the same period in 2019.
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