A primary school pupil has died in Wales after catching Strep A.
The death, earlier this week, was confirmed by Victoria Primary School in Penarth and the Vale of Glamorgan council and comes after the death of a six-year-old at Ashford Church of England Primary School in Surrey where an other child was hospitalised by the outbreak.
In a joint statement, the Welsh school and council said: “Earlier this week it was confirmed that a pupil from Victoria Primary School had tragically passed away after contracting Strep A.
“Both the school and council would like to pass on their heartfelt condolences to the family at this incredibly difficult time.
“Support is being provided to staff and pupils by the council’s team of educational psychologists and information from Public Health Wales has been circulated to parents where appropriate.
“It is unlikely that other pupils will be affected by the illness and severe symptoms are extremely rare.
“Sensible precautions such as regular hand-washing and not attending school when ill can reduce the risk of infection.
“If someone who has been in contact with an individual with Strep A develops any of the following symptoms: high fever, severe muscle aches, pain in one area of the body, redness at the site of a wound, vomiting or diarrhoea, a sore throat or tonsillitis, a mild skin infection such as impetigo or a rash, they should contact their GP immediately.”
Group A streptococcus (or Strep A) is known to cause scarlet fever, throat infections and, in very rare cases, invasive disease.
This can occur when bacteria get into parts of the body where bacteria are not usually found, such as the blood, muscle or the lungs.
It can happen if the bacteria get past a person’s defences, such as through an open wound or when a person’s immune system is depleted.
Most people who come into contact with the bacteria remain well and symptom-free.
