Scarlet fever infections rise to nearly 30 000, UKHSA reports

Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show a continued increase in scarlet fever and group A streptococcus infections, with numbers substantially higher than observed in previous years.This season (12 September to 18 December) 27 486 scarlet fever infections and 94 deaths were recorded across all age groups in England, including 21 people aged under 18. This compares with 3287 infections in the same period during the last comparably high season in 2017-18, which had 30 768 scarlet fever infections across a whole year.Colin Brown, deputy director of the UKHSA, said, “I understand how this large rise in scarlet fever and ‘strep throat’ may be concerning to parents; however, the condition can be easily treated with antibiotics, and it is very rare that a child will go on to become more seriously ill. At this time of year there are lots of winter illnesses circulating that can make…
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