Four cases of a potentially life-threatening illness caused by invasive Strep A have been recorded in Oldham in five weeks.
Councillors have been told that infections resulting from the bacteria Strep A, including scarlet fever, are above average in the borough for the time of year.
Oldham Council leader Amanda Chadderton told full council on Wednesday that in the five week period from October 31 to December 2 there had been 21 cases of scarlet fever and four cases of Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease (IGAS) in Oldham residents which were notified to the UK Health Security Agency.
Strep A bacteria is commonly found in the throat and on the skin, and while many people have no symptoms, it can cause many different infections ranging from minor illnesses to serious and deadly diseases.
Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease, which has the rare potential to be fatal, is caused by the bacteria getting into parts of the body where it is not normally found, such as the lungs or bloodstream. In recent months multiple children across the UK have died from complications of Strep A.
By 10 December, the death toll of children who had died after contracting an invasive Strep A illness had risen to 16.
Infections caused by Strep A include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat. Scarlet fever in particular has seen a surge in cases.
Cllr Chadderton told members that cases of Strep A have been ‘causing a lot of concern for parents across the country’.
“Strep A cases across all age groups are higher than expected at this time of year across the country, and cases of Strep A usually increase in the winter,” she added.
“In Oldham in recent weeks we have seen numbers which are slightly higher than the seasonal average.
“We understand that parents, families and educational settings are concerned at the moment, the council’s public health team is providing help to schools and early years settings.”
Cllr Chadderton said that confirmed cases of scarlet fever and IGAS must be reported by laboratories to the UK Health Security Agency. She urged concerned parents to check the NHS website for advice and identify symptoms to look out for.
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