The South West, along with the rest of the UK, has been experiencing increased rates of Strep A infections, otherwise known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS), over recent days and weeks.
Two weeks ago is was reported that cases of Strep A and scarlet fever - a bacterial condition caused by Strep A bacteria - were estimated to be more than four times higher this year compared to averages from previous years.
The south west as a region currently sits on the national average of Strep A complication rates. One positive sign is that the latest figures produced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have placed the region nearer to the bottom of the other English regions in terms of number of cases by 100,000 people of scarlet fever.
