More British children have already died from Strep A this winter than during the whole of the last bad season.
Since the start of the season in September, 29 under-18s have died in England from the mostly harmless virus.
In comparison, 27 youngsters died from the bacterial infection in the 2017/18 season, which health chiefs said was the last “bad” year.
Five deaths from Strep A have been recorded in Wales this winter, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.
What are the symptoms of Strep A? How does it spread? And is it the same as scarlet fever? Everything you need to know about the killer virus sweeping Britain
What is Strep A?
Group A Streptococci (Group A Strep or Strep A) can cause many different infections.
The bacteria are commonly found in the throat and on the skin, and some people have no symptoms.
Infections caused by Strep A range from mild illness to severe and fatal illness.
These include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.
While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, the bacteria sometimes cause an illness called invasive group A streptococcal disease.
READ MAILONLINE’S FULL Q&A ABOUT STREP A.
The victims included Stella-Lilly McCorkindale, a five-year-old girl from Northern Ireland, Hannah Roap, a “bubbly” seven-year-old from Wales, and Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, a four-year-old boy from Buckinghamshire.
Strep A bacteria can cause a variety of infections, including impetigo, scarlet fever, and strep throat. The vast majority of cases are mild.
However, in extremely rare cases, the bacteria can enter the blood and cause a life-threatening complication called invasive group A streptococci (iGAS).
Strep A outbreaks begin to gain momentum in the New Year before peaking in the spring. But this year it started earlier than usual.
The UKHSA said there is usually a rise in iGAS cases every three to four years, but social distancing during the Covid pandemic “may have broken that cycle and explained the current surge”.
High rates of other respiratory viruses – including flu, RSV and norovirus – could put children at greater risk of strep A co-infections and make them more vulnerable to serious illness, the UKHSA suggested.
UKHSA incident director DR Obaghe Edeghere said: “When children return to school, scarlet fever and laryngitis will continue to circulate at high levels.
“It is important that we all wash our hands regularly and thoroughly and cover coughs and sneezes into a handkerchief.
“This will help stop the spread of germs between children and other vulnerable groups and prevent the spread of other winter diseases that are currently circulating at high rates, including flu and Covid.
“It’s not too late to get the free flu and Covid vaccines if you qualify – we know that group A strep infections can be more serious when combined with another infection such as flu.”
Symptoms of Strep A infection can include a sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting.
The infection is easily treated with antibiotics if caught early, which also limits its spread and reduces the likelihood of complications.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin, amoxicillin and clarithromycin are three antibiotics used to treat the bacterial infection.
Health chiefs have advised doctors to have a “low threshold” for prescribing to young people who suspect Strep A.
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From the “tempered” seven-year-old whose father was desperate to save her with CPR, to the four-year-old who loved to explore: Strep A victims so far
Muhammad Ibrahim Ali
The four-year-old attended Oakridge School and Nursery in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
He died of cardiac arrest at home in mid-November after contracting Strep A.
He was prescribed antibiotics.
His mother, Shabana Kousar, told the Bucks Free Press: “The loss is great and nothing can replace it.
“He was very helpful around the house and quite adventurous, he loved exploring the forest school and enjoyed it, his best day was a Monday and said Monday was the best day of the week.
Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, who attended Oakridge School and Nursery in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, died after contracting the bacterial infection
Hannah calls
The “bubbly” and “beautiful” seven-year-old is the only child to die from Strep A in Wales so far.
Her devastated parents told how their “hearts were broken into a thousand pieces.”
The first signs of infection were mild. Hannah’s father, Abul, took his daughter to the doctor after her cough worsened overnight.
She was prescribed steroids and sent home, but died less than 12 hours later.
Mr Roap remembers how he desperately tried to revive his child: “She stopped breathing at 8pm, but we didn’t know straight away because she was sleeping.
“I did CPR, I tried to revive her but it didn’t work. Paramedics came and resumed CPR, but it was too late.”
Mr Roap said the family were “absolutely devastated” and were awaiting answers from the hospital.
The family believes that if she had been given antibiotics initially, she would have survived.
Hanna Roap, who attended Victoria Primary School in Penarth, Wales, died last month after contracting Strep A. Her family say they are “traumatized” by her death.
Stella Lily McCorkindale
Five-year-old Stella-Lily McCokindale died after contracting Strep A, the first death from the infection in Northern Ireland.
She died in the Royal Belfast Hospital on December 5.
In a tribute on social media, her father Robert said the couple “loved every minute” they spent together on scooters and bike rides.
“If prayers, thoughts, feelings and love could have worked, she would have walked out of the hospital with her father’s hand,” he said.
Stella-Lily attended Black Mountain Primary School, which said she was “a bright and talented little girl” and described her death as a “tragic loss”.
Five-year-old Stella-Lily McCokindale, who attended Black Mountain Primary School in Belfast, died in early December after contracting Strep A
Jax Albert Jeffreys
A five-year-old boy who died of Strep A was misdiagnosed with the flu, his family said.
Jax Albert Jefferys, of Waterlooville, Hampshire, died on December 1.
His mother, Charlene, told how she sought medical advice three times in the four days before Jax’s death and was told he had influenza A. She described Jax as a “sassy little guy”.
Later tests showed that he did have Strep A.
Jax Albert Jefferys, a five-year-old from Waterlooville, Hampshire, died of Strep A on December 1.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
