More than 850 cases of scarlet fever were reported in Wales last week - nearly 35 times above the average for this time of year. Public Health Wales, which publishes a surveillance report each Monday, confirmed that 866 cases of the disease were identified between Monday, December 6, and Sunday, December 11 - way up on the 151 announced the previous week.
The average number of scarlet fever cases for the same week over the previous three years was around 25. However Dr Chris Williams, consultant epidemiologist for Public Health Wales, said the data should be treated with caution as GPs and the public are being urged to look out for the condition.
The spike in scarlet fever reporting comes following a rise in Strep A cases which can cause a wide variety of infections, but most commonly scarlet fever. According to PHW, scarlet fever mainly affects children aged two to eight, with most having built up an immunity to it by the age of 10. Most cases of scarlet fever cause no complications, especially if the condition is properly treated with antibiotics.
