Health bosses have insisted there is no new strain outbreak of Strep A in the UK - despite six young children now having died of the bacterial infection.
In the last week Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, four, from High Wycombe, Hanna Roap, seven, from Penarth, Wales, a six-year-old child from Ashford in Surrey and a primary-school aged child from north Ealing, London have all died with Strep A infection.
Two other English children under 10, whose names, ages and locations have not been made public, also died within seven days of being diagnosed, although the dates of their deaths are currently unknown.
The UK Health Security Agency told the Mirror that scarlet fever infections are up this year compared to normal as they warned parents to be on the lookout for deadly warning signs that could turn into invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
However, in a release this afternoon, the agency has 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."
It added: "There are lots of viruses that cause sore throats, colds and coughs circulating.
"These should resolve without medical intervention. However, children can on occasion develop a bacterial infection on top of a virus and that can make them more unwell."
The NHS states that Group A Streptococcus is the name given to a type of bacteria sometimes found in the throat or on the skin.
Infections usually result in mild illness but can become the more serious invasive Group A Strep - also known as iGAS.
According to the World Health Organisation 500,000 people die from iGAS each year.
Official statistics from the UKHSA show that for every 100,000 cases of scarlet fever, 3.1 people will develop iGAS.
However, the rate is around nine per 100,000 for babies under one and eight per 100,000 for children aged one to four.
Dr Colin Brown, Deputy Director, UKHSA, said: “We are seeing a higher number of cases of Group A strep this year than usual.
"The bacteria usually causes a mild infection producing sore throats or scarlet fever that can be easily treated with antibiotics.
"In very rare circumstances, this bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause serious illness – called invasive Group A strep (iGAS).
"This is still uncommon, however, it is important that parents are on the lookout for symptoms and see a doctor as quickly as possible so that their child can be treated and we can stop the infection becoming serious.
"Make sure you talk to a health professional if your child is showing signs of deteriorating after a bout of scarlet fever, a sore throat, or a respiratory infection.”
Dr Simon Clarke, microbiologist at the University of Reading, told the Mirror: “Group A Streptococcus is a spherical bacteria, roughly 1 thousandth of a millimetre in diameter which is fairly common and lives primarily in the throat and is carried around by some people without ever causing them any problems.
"But sometimes it causes disease which can range from mild cases of sore throat to more serious illnesses like scarlet fever and in rare incidences necrotising fasciitis, otherwise known as “flesh eating disease”.
“It’s important to remember that infections like this never occur at a constant rate, you get peaks and troughs in numbers and from that we work out an average.
"There is a suggestion that there have been more cases lately than we would expect, but that might be a statistical blip.
"It’s also important to stress that this infection, when diagnosed quickly, can easily be treated with antibiotics, and only in extreme cases does it need hospitalisation.
"I’m unaware of any factor linking these reported deaths, so it’s impossible to link them, but I do expect there to be further cases over the coming weeks and months.
“It strikes me that as we are seeing with flu at the moment, lack of mixing in kids may have caused a drop in population-wide immunity that could increase transmission, particularly in school age children.”
Professor Ian Jones, an infectious disease expert at Reading University told Mail Online it was too soon to say if this year's Strep A outbreak was particularly bad but it was unusual in terms of timing.
'It is too early to assume it will be a bad year but what does seem clear is that the peak has shifted towards the autumn from the summer,' he said.
'Death in young kids is indeed tragic but I don't, unfortunately to say, see it as out of the ordinary yet.
'It happens and the alert it brings does remind parents and teachers what to look for, which then helps to keep numbers down through early diagnosis, along with antibiotic roll out if an outbreak is suspected."
What is Group A Streptococcus?
Group A Streptococcus is the name given to a type of bacteria sometimes found in the throat or on the skin.
Group A Streptococcus usually causes mild illness like sore throats and skin infections.
Rarely these bacteria can cause severe and life threatening illness called invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
How could I catch Group A Streptococcus?
Many people carry Group A Strep harmlessly and do not develop illness.
It can be passed from person to person by close contact such as kissing or skin contact.
Most people who come into contact with Group A Strep remain well and symptom free, some get mild throat or skin infections.
Contracting invasive disease from a relative or household member is very rare.
You can reduce the risk of picking up Group A Strep by always washing your hands thoroughly.
Pregnant women or those having gynaecology treatments are advised to wash their hands before and after going to the toilet.
It is also important to dispose of tissues after use and to wash your hands when you have a cough or cold.
What are the symptoms?
Group A Strep can cause throat infection, scarlet fever or skin infections such as cellulitis or impetigo.
These infections are usually treated with antibiotics.
Very rarely it can cause severe illness when the bacteria get into parts of the body that are usually free from bacteria such as the lungs, blood or muscles.
This is called invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body’s immune defences.
This can happen when you are already ill or are on treatments, such as some cancer treatments, that affect your immune system.
Two of the most severe types of invasive disease are necrotising fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome.
Am I at any increased risk of invasive disease?
Those at an increased risk of invasive Group A Streptococcal disease include people who:
- are in close contact with someone who has the disease
- are over the age of 65
- are diabetic, have heart disease or cancer
- have recently had chickenpox
- have HIV
- use some steroids or other intravenous drugs
What are the warning signs of invasive disease?
The symptoms can include:
- fever (a high temperature above 38°C )
- severe muscle aches
- localised muscle tenderness
- redness at the site of a wound
If you think you or someone you care for has symptoms of invasive Group A Strep contact your GP or NHS 111 immediately.
