Schools Minister confirmed schools could be equip with Strep A antibiotics

Nick Gibb has claimed some schools could be provided with Strep A antibiotics following a severe outbreak that has caused the deaths of nine children.

Group A streptococcus, otherwise known as Strep A, can cause scarlet fever, throat infections and in rare cases, invasive disease.

There have been nine recorded deaths in children under 10 with an invasive Strep A diagnosis, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). As a result of this, Mr Gibb announced providing antibiotics in schools is now ‘an option’ and raised the issue in the House of Lords on Monday.

According to UKHSA data that was published last week, the dangerous infection is spreading rapidly as there were 2.3 cases of invasive disease per 100,000 children aged one to four this year in England, compared to an average of 0.5 before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The demand for schools to receive antibiotics has also come after the recent announcement of a five-year-old girl who became the ninth victim of Invasive Strep A. The young girl attended The Black Mountain Primary School in Belfast and was rushed into intensive care last week where she tragically passed. 

The UKHSA have claimed investigations are under way into the spread of Strep A and have reported that there is no evidence to suggest a new strain of the disease has developed, making the increased infections likely to be down to high amounts of circulating bacteria and social mixing.

Dr Colin Brown, Deputy Director at UKHSA, said: ‘We are seeing a higher number of cases of Group A strep this year than usual.

‘The bacteria usually causes a mild infection producing sore throats or scarlet fever that can easily be treated by antibiotics’ Mr Brown said, ‘In very rare circumstances, this bacteria can get into the blood stream and cause serious illness – called invasive Group A strep.’

‘It is important that parents are on the lookout for symptoms and see a doctor as quickly as possible so that their child can be treated, and we can stop the infection becoming serious.’

Symptoms that parents are looking for in their children include a high temperature above 38 degrees, severe muscle aches and a rash.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya