A new fatal case of group A streptococcus (GAS) has been confirmed by the
British health authorities
, bringing to four the number of
minors who have died
as a result of bacterial infection in the last ten days.
Confirmed deaths associated with the so-called Strep A have taken place in different towns in
England and Wales
.
Group A streptococci are bacteria that tend to be present in the throat and on a person's skin.
Most GAS infections result in
relatively mild illnesses
, such as strep throat and impetigo.
However, these bacteria can sometimes cause
more serious diseases
, such as necrotizing fasciitis (called "flesh-eating bacteria") and strep toxic shock syndrome (STSS).
Tonsillitis, scarlet fever or pneumonia
are mentioned among the most common ailments caused by this bacterium.
Some children may carry group A strep in their throat or on their skin
without showing symptoms
of any disease.
The British authorities have detected an increase in the child population affected by IGAS infection, which they relate to social
isolation
and confinement measures adopted during the coronavirus pandemic.
The last deceased minor, who was officially reported this Friday, has been identified as Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, a four-year-old boy who studied at a public school in High Wycombre, in the
English county of Buckingham
.
Authorities have confirmed that he contracted an invasive form of GAS.
"This is a tragic case... we have provided advice to the school and kindergarten to prevent further cases and we will continue to
review the situation
," Dr Jill Morris of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) told reporters.
Hours before, the death due to the GAS infection of a child in London, who was studying in the Ealing neighborhood, west of the capital, was also confirmed.
Two other schoolchildren
died from the infection in
the last ten days in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, and in England.
The recent English case has been linked to an outbreak of the infection detected in a school in Surrey, south of London.
Strep A is spread by
direct contact with nasal
or throat secretions from people with infected skin lesions.
The risk of contagion is greater when the carrier has developed symptoms, the presence of streptococci is
located in the throat
or has infected wounds.
Antibiotics are the first shock treatment to prevent disease development and prevent the spread of infection.
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