Strep A is rife in children across the UK at the minute with at least nine losing their lives to the bacteria.
Though Strep A can cause a number of illnesses, it is not itself an illness - instead, it is a type of bacteria that can cause conditions such as scarlet fever. For most the symptoms of Strep A will be mild and they will recover in a matter of days but for others it can become serious quickly.
Strep A infections can become invasive, which is when the bacteria reaches the blood or internal organs, causing a number of life-threatening conditions. It is Invasive Strep A (known as iGAS) that has caused at least nine deaths among children recently, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Conditions linked to Invasive Strep A include necrotising fasciitis - also known as the 'flesh-eating disease' - necrotising pneumonia and Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome, reported Yorkshire Live.
