Prime Minister Rishi Sunak provided an update on the Strep A situation in the House of Commons today.
Mr Sunak was taking part in his weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, facing a grilling from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. After a number of political attacks, Mr Starmer asked for an update on the situation concerning Strep A infections in the country.
The bacteria usually causes a mild infection producing sore throats or scarlet fever that can easily be treated with antibiotics. But in rare cases it can cause serious illness - known as Invasive group A strep (iGAS). Nine children have been reported to have died amid the rise in infections.
READ MORE: When to take children to A&E over Strep A fears
Asked about the situation, Mr Sunak said: "My thoughts are with the families of the children who have sadly lost their lives, we are sadly seeing a higher number of cases of Strep A this year compared to usual
"What I can say is the NHS, who I have sat down with to talk about this with, are working very hard to make sure parents know the symptoms they should be looking out for because this can be treated appropriately with antibiotics."
Speaking about drug supplied, which some have raised concerns about, the Prime Minister added: "There are no current shortages of drugs available to treat this and there are well established procedures in question to make sure that remains the case.
"The UK Health Security Agency are monitoring the situation at pace and what they have confirmed is that this is not a new strain of Strep A and there is no reason to believe it has become more lethal or more resistant to antibiotics and what parents should do is look out for the symptoms and get the treatment that is available for them."
Liverpool's Public Health Director Matt Ashton spoke to the ECHO about the Strep A situation. He said: "We all get ill all the way through the year, but winter is a time when lots of viruses are flying around and kids especially will get ill. Scarlet Fever symptoms tend to be fever, headache, sore throat and a sandpaper rash on your body which highlights it as something different from other illnesses you see at this time of year.
"While it is mild, it is very infectious so you shouldn't be in school or work if you have it. You or a child's parents should be phoning 111 or their GP to describe the illness and if it is Scarlet Fever they will be getting antibiotics prescribed. Scarlet Fever is mostly managed at home which means wrapping up warm, drinking plenty of fluids and managing fever through use of paracetamol. It's mild and you would not usually get seriously ill.
"We have seen a small number of deaths across the country from invasive Strep A infection and that is really tragic. If your child or you is seriously unwell then that is when 999 is needed or a visit to A&E.
"This is normally around if you're child is having difficulty breathing, if they are making grunting noises or if they are sucking their tummy up beneath their ribs as they are trying to catch their breaths, if their tongue or lips are blue or if the child is floppy, won't wake up or stay awake - that's when there is something seriously wrong."
READ NEXT:
Dad took girl, 5, to hospital three times before she died of Strep A
Murdered dad could have been victim in plot to destroy evidence
Liverpool's lost 'rough' pubs from 'criminal sanctuaries' to a 'dark ages Moe's Tavern'
