Another four children die of Strep A as UK's death toll hits 30
- Officials revealed another four children have died of the usually mild winter bug
- These latest fatalities bring the total across the UK to the grim milestone of 30
- Health experts have urged people to stay away from children if they feel unwell
Another four children have died from Strep A, health chiefs confirmed today.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 25 children in England have now died due to the usually-mild bacterial virus.
Two youngsters have died in each of Scotland and Wales from the bug this winter, while one has died in Northern Ireland.
It brings the total number of Strep A fatalities among children in the UK this winter to 30 as UKHSA urges people feeling unwell to stay home.
UKHSA incident director Dr Obaghe Edeghere said: 'Over the winter, there are lots of illnesses circulating that can make children unwell.'
'So it is important to avoid contact with other people if you are feeling unwell, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly and catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue.'
Serious infections of Strep A called invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) infections, are rare.
There have been 151 iGAS cases in children aged one to four in England so far this year.
This compares to 194 cases in this age group in the last serious Strep A season, which occurred in the winter of 2017/18.
Amongst children aged five to nine there have been 102 iGAS cases this year, compared to 117 in 2017/18.
The total iGAS death toll, in all age groups, for this year is 122.
UKHSA said there 355 deaths in total across the 2017/18 season, including 27 deaths in children under 18-years-of-age.
Although low, the number of British children who have died from Strep A is higher than expected for this time of year.
Twenty-seven under-18s died from the bug throughout the entirety of the last bad winter, in 2017/18.
Strep A bacteria can cause a range of other infections, including impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.
While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, in exceptionally rare cases the bacteria can cause invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS).
Two of the most severe forms of this invasive disease are necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Both can kill.
There is usually a surge in iGAS cases every three to four years but social distancing during the Covid pandemic is thought to have interrupted this cycle.
Some experts have suggested that this has left some youngsters with reduced immunity to Strep A — with a high number of children never having encountered the bacteria in their lifetime.
High rates of other respiratory viruses — including flu, RSV and norovirus — may also be putting children at higher risk of co-infections with Strep A, leaving them more susceptible to severe illness, the World Health Organization said.
It comes after Scotland yesterday confirmed that two children aged under 10 had died from iGAS.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) logged seven deaths due to the Strep A complication between October 3 and December 25, five of which were among adults.
It noted that the figure 'compares with between zero and seven deaths reported during the same time period of previous years'.
Scotland's Health Secretary Humza Yousaf tweeted: 'Every death is a tragedy, particularly those of young children, my thoughts with families & loved ones affected.'
He added: 'Thankfully most cases of Strep A present as mild illness & can be treated with antibiotics. Working with UK Govt to ensure adequate supplies.
'Where localised shortages of first line treatments occur there are alternative & effective antibiotics available.'
The two child fatalities in Scotland have not been named.
Confirmed victims in other parts of the UK include Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, a four-year-old boy from Buckinghamshire, and Hannah Roap, seven, from Wales.
In other health news...
UK Strep A child death toll rises to 26 after Scotland confirms TWO fatalities among under-10s
A&E patients forced to wait 15 hours ON AVERAGE in parts of England as hospitals blame flu, Covid and a lack of beds for 'unprecedented' pressure
The British Heart Foundation has dismissed MP claims that it is 'covering up' data that mRNA Covid vaccines harm the heart
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