After a case of Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) was confirmed at a primary school in South Gloucestershire on Wednesday (December 7), other cases in local schools have now been reported. Filton Hill Primary School and Begbrook Primary Academy, along with Bailey's Court Primary School, have now confirmed cases of Strep A to Bristol Live.
Strep A is a common type of bacteria that doesn’t always cause illness but can lead to skin infections, scarlet fever, and strep throat. While these infections are typically mild, rarely the condition can become more serious. Nationally case numbers of Strep A and scarlet fever, which is also caused by the same bacteria, are around four times higher this year compared to averages in previous years, according to The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and four adults in the South West have now died with the infection.
Begbrook Primary Academy told Bristol Live it has recently received confirmation of three positive Strep A cases involving pupils. It says that the academy is “following the national guidance and the advice from the local Health Protection Team.”
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A spokesperson for the school said, “The academy has prepared carefully for this situation and is ensuring that all parents remain informed, both of the situation in school and the official advice to parents from the Health Protection Team. [We have] rigorously enacted the control measures advised in the national guidance to keep everyone in the community safe and limit any potential spread, and will continue to work proactively in the best interests of all in our community.”
At Filton Hill Primary, where there were reports of cases several weeks ago, a spokesperson said, “The comments relate to a historic case of Strep quite some time ago and does not relate to the current UK outbreak.
“However, we have [recently] had notification of one isolated case of Strep A within Filton Hill. We have taken advice from South Gloucestershire Council and will be increasing our general hygiene in all our schools and reminding learners and staff to wash their hands regularly.
“All schools within our Trust have sent parents/carers of our learners the attached letter from South Gloucestershire Council, which was received yesterday.”
Bailey's Court Primary School in Bradley Stoke has informed parents a year four child has developed the infection. In an email sent to parents with children at the school, school headteacher, Mr Andrew Lynham, confirmed the child was being treated by their doctor and should be safe to return to school "over the next few days". The email said the Health Security Agency had been informed, and the school had been informed there was no further action necessary.
The South West as a whole is experiencing significantly lower levels of Scarlett Fever, which is caused by Strep A, than more urban areas of the UK. The UKHSA said between weeks 37 and 48 of 2022; there have been 440 cases of Scarlet Fever and 65 cases of invasive Group A Strep (iGAS), which is when bacteria gets into the bloodstream in the South West.
As of December 9, a total of 6,601 cases of scarlet fever were reported nationally in weeks 37 to 48 in England, with 1,062 received in week 48. This compares with an average of 1,774 (range 333 to 2,915) for this same period (weeks 37 to 48) in the previous five years. In the UK the recent surge in iGAS cases has led to the deaths of 60 people, including 13 children. Health bosses have also confirmed that four adults have died in the South West from iGAS infections. In its latest update,
The UKHSA website states: "Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious. Therefore, look out for symptoms in, which include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel. On darker skin, the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel.
"Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection. If your child has scarlet fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.
As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:
Your child is getting worse
Your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
Your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
Your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher
Your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
Your child is very tired or irritable
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
Your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
There are pauses when your child breathes
Your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
Your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake
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