South and West London have the capital’s highest rates of scarlet fever, new data shows, as 15 children under the age of 15 in the UK were confirmed to have died of invasive Strep A.
Figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that boroughs in the two regions of London had the highest suspected rates of the illness, which is a manifestation of Strep A infection.
There were comparatively very few or no cases at all in areas of East and North London, according to the data. The figures are representative of suspected scarlet fever cases, which are not officially confirmed. However, monitoring these levels can still provide health authorities with an indication of how much Strep A bacteria is in circulation.
Strep A bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from minor illnesses to serious and deadly diseases. They include scarlet fever, strep throat and the skin infection impetigo.
Symptoms of scarlet fever include sore throat, headache and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a “sandpapery” feel. Online NHS information suggests Strep A infections such as scarlet fever can be treated with the antibiotics penicillin and amoxicillin.
A total of 1,131 suspected cases of scarlet fever were reported in England and Wales in the week up to December 4, the figures showed, with 156 of these in London. This is up from 991 infections across the UK the week before and well over double the figure recorded in the week up to November 6.
The borough of Bromley had the highest toll in London, with 13 infections reported in the seven days up to December 4. Bexley, Lambeth, Hammersmith and Fulham and Ealing were in second place with 12 cases recorded.
Lewisham reported 11 scarlet fever infections while Croydon recorded 10.
Meanwhile, multiple boroughs of East London did not record any cases. There were no confirmed infections in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
The picture was similar in North London, with Haringey and Islington not recording a single case.
London had the third highest regional total of scarlet fever cases in England, behind the South East (189) and North West (182).
Overall rates of scarlet fever have increased four-fold on pre-pandemic levels, health authorities have said.
While the vast majority of Strep A infections are relatively mild, sometimes the bacteria cause serious and life-threatening invasive Group A Streptococcal disease.
Dr Yvonne Young, the UK Health Security Agency's London deputy director for health protection, urged London parents to "trust their judgment" and seek urgent medical help if their child becomes seriously unwell with symptoms of Strep A.
She said: "It’s always a worry when a child is unwell, but thankfully mild cases of GAS infection can be treated with antibiotics from your GP.
“However, in very rare occasions, GAS bacteria can become ‘invasive’ (iGAS), and the symptoms to look out for include breathing difficulties, the skin, tongue or lips turning blue, or if your child is floppy and will not stay awake. It’s vitally important that, as a parent, you trust your judgement and seek urgent medical help if your child’s condition begins to worsen or they have any of these serious symptoms.”
She added: "Good hand and respiratory hygiene, and staying away from others when feeling unwell are all important for stopping the spread of GAS and other common winter illnesses.”
In other developments, Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Wednesday denied that there was a shortage of antibiotics needed to treat Strep A infections. It came after The Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, which represents around 4,000 pharmacies, said many were struggling to source all they need.
Mr Barclay told GB News: “We’re in very close contact with our medical suppliers. They’re under a duty to notify us if there are supply shortages. They have not done so as yet.”
He also told Sky News: “I checked with the team last night – we have an established team in the department that does this on a permanent basis – and they reassured me we have good supply.”
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) officials have suggested that a lack of mixing due to the Covid pandemic plus susceptibility in children are probably “bringing forward the normal scarlet fever season” from spring to this side of Christmas.
Dr Colin Brown, deputy director of the UKHSA, suggested on Tuesday that the strains are not more severe, adding: “There isn’t something that is particularly new or novel about the bacteria that are causing the infections that we’re seeing at the moment.”
Full list of infections recorded in London boroughs in the week up to December 4 is as follows:
Bromley - 13 infections
Bexley - 12 infections
Ealing - 12 infections
Hammersmith and Fulham - 12 infections
Lambeth - 11 infections
Lewisham - 11 infections
Croydon - 10 infections
Hounslow - 9 infections
Richmond upon Thames - 9 infections
Wandsworth - 8 infections
Sutton - 8 infections
Southwark - 7 infections
Greenwich - 6 infections
Kingston upon Thames - 5 infections
Hillingdon - 5 infections
Harrow - 5 infections
Brent - 4 infections
Kensington and Chelsea - 2 infections
Camden - 1 infection
Barnet - 1 infection
Westminster - 1 infection
Waltham Forest - 0 infections
Redbridge - 0 infections
Havering - 0 infections
Enfield - 0 infections
Barking and Dagenham - 0 infections
Tower Hamlets - 0 infections
Newham - 0 infections
Haringey - 0 infections
Islington - 0 infections
Hackney - 0 infections
City of London - 0 infections
