What role could Covid lockdowns have played in the spread of infections like Strep A? Newsnight's Science Correspondent katelamble crunches the numbers
Parents need to be vigilant - that is the message from health officials and local doctors.The UK is experiencing an outbreak because for two years during the Covid pandemic, children didn't mix as much and their systems are not immune to a number of different infections.
The PHA's Dr Philip Veal said the science did not support closing schools amidst clusters of strep A infections as this would have "limited impact" and children would continue to congregate in other settings. Dr Veal added that in a cluster of cases - for example in a school - anyone with symptoms should be assessed by a doctor, who would decide if they should be given antibiotics.The current increase in cases was unusual because it is happening in the winter, rather than the spring, said the PHA., which is much higher than usual for this time of year.
UK Health Minister Maria Caulfield said she was sorry to hear about the Black Mountain Primary School pupil's death. Very rarely, Strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly.The government said thatWatch for warning signs A strep A infection becomes dangerous when a child suddenly deteriorates, deputy chairperson of the Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee Dr Frances O'Hagan said."The other thing to be aware of is that the treatment for strep A is an antibiotic called Penicillin V," Dr O'Hagan said.
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