There have been calls for a “NPHET-style response” to raise awareness of the Strep A virus following the suspected death of an Irish child.
The HSE has launched an investigation into the death of a four-year-old child, which is believed to be linked to an invasive Strep A infection.
It is also believed that one child in Northern Ireland has died from the virus.
Read More: Strep A infection Ireland: What is it, top symptoms, can adults get it and how it’s spread
There have now been calls for a “NPHET-style response” to the Strep A situation to keep parents informed of the evolving situation.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) provided regular updates on Covid-19 during the pandemic.
Labour’s education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has now said that a similar set up is needed to reassure “terrified” parents.
He told the Irish Mirror that the Department of Education needs to provide advice to schools on the issue.
“The Department of Education should be communicating immediately with all schools, patron bodies, boards of management, teacher unions and every other actor in the education sphere,” Mr Ó Riordáin said.
“It should also send a circular to inform everybody working in education and parents of the current status of the situation, what to look out for, how to address a suspected case.
“A knowledge vacuum is not what we need here at all.
“I know that anybody who is the parent of a child in that age group is absolutely terrified at the moment.
“Everybody wants to hear leadership and knowledge, similar to what happened around the pandemic.We need to hear some comforting noises from those in authority.
“We need to have the reassurance of a body with the authority of NPHET and the Chief Medical Officer to inform the public exactly what the status of this virus is and what steps need to be taken to address it if there is a suspected case.
“The prospect of another child dying is just too horrendous to think about, especially when we could potentially prevent it.
“We need a NPHET-style response to this.”
Sinn Féin’s education Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said that the Department of Education and the Department of Health need to strike a balance between informing parents and frightening them.
“Anything that the Department of Education is putting out needs to be based on public health advice,” he said.
“The two departments should be talking to each other about what guidance is available to parents.
“There are risks, but we wouldn’t want to be alarming parents either.”
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday that he was “very concerned about the situation and, of course, the sad events that we’ve heard about, young children getting sick and potentially dying”
“I’ve had a detailed discussion with officials on it and the CMO (Chief Medical Officer) has been in touch and has given us good advice,” he said.
“What she says is the best advice to follow.”
Most cases of Strep A - also known as Group A streptococcus - are harmless and can cause strep throat, tonsillitis, and impetigo, which is a skin infection.
However, in rare cases, if the infection gets into the blood, deep muscle, or lungs, it can become fatal unless caught early and treated with antibiotics
Symptoms of the virus include a sore throat, fever, chills and muscle aches.
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